A Kent man is set for a 'challenge of a lifetime' by competing in a gruelling sports event every month during 2013.

Jonathan Broad has spent months planning a series of challenges throughout the year, from half marathons to a 200-mile cycle ride.

The 37-year-old operations manager from Borough Green is doing it not only to raise money for charity, but also to raise awareness of mental health issues.

He says: "It was something that I'd originally started to think about in 2011 with the aim of doing 12 events in 12 months in 2012 but I picked up some niggly injuries which put paid to that idea.

"But I decided when I got over those problems there was no reason I couldn't do it in 2013 and spent the back half of 2012 training hard and getting myself in tip top shape."

Jonathan will start his sporting year with a 10k run in Bromley later this month before competing in the Brighton half marathon in February.

He has also signed up to compete in the Tour de Kent, a 200-mile cycle ride around the county, and is hoping to do a parachute jump in the summer.

It is hoped he will raise thousands of pounds for mental health charity Mind.

He added: "I've got several friends and family members who've had mental health issues in the past and what I've noticed is that it's very difficult for them to talk openly about those issues.

"It's mainly because of the way their friends would see them. There's a fear attached to it and I don't think that fear needs to exist and this is my way of getting those issues out into the open."

A rigorous training regime and cutting out drinking has left Jonathan feeling in the best possible shape for the new year resolution he says he won't break: "In all of the events I don't intend to just turn up and plod around, I'm going to push myself as hard as I can and do my best and perform as well as I can.

"I've got a training cycle that I go through and I've been doing anything between 10 and 16 hours a week training for these events - it's been a bit like having a part-time job really."

Jonathan's schedule

Jan 13: Bromley 10k

Feb 17: Brighton Half Marathon

Mar 24: Fast and Furious Duathlon

Apr 7: Paddock Wood Half Marathon

May 25-27: Tour de Kent – 200 mile cycle ride around Kent

Jun: BHF London to Brighton bike ride (TBC when registration opens)

Jul: TBA (Possibility of parachute jump)

Aug 4: London Ride 100 – 100 mile cycle starting in London

Sept: TBA

Oct: Chilham Duathlon

Nov: Bexhill Poppy Half Marathon (TBC)

Dec: TBA