AN assistant shop manager and father of two has completed the equivalent of four Olympic triathlons, despite having to use an oxygen cylinder and mask as he suffers from cystic fibrosis.

As well as raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Jason Shortt, 43, from Northolt, set himself the challenge to emphasise the benefits of exercise for people with the condition.

Each triathlon consists of a 10k run, 40k bike ride and a 1.5k swim and took between six and seven hours to complete over a two week period.

Cystic fibrosis is a life-shortening genetic condition which causes the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, to become clogged with thick sticky mucus, resulting in chronic infections and inflammation of the lungs.

Jason said: “By regularly going to the gym, I increased my exercise tolerance, general fitness and showed massive improvement in my chest clearance.”

Money raised will enable the Cystic Fibrosis Trust to invest in cutting-edge research, to develop better treatments.

Anyone wanting to help Jason achieve his target of raising £5,000 can do so by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/Jason-Shortt1/. He has so far raised £2,112.