A LARGS man is going the extra mile to raise funds for a youth charity in memory of his much-loved father who spent his childhood in care.

Nick Fleming, 50, is the chief executive of Ocean Youth Trust Scotland, a voluntary organisation which aims to support disadvantaged young people by taking them on residential sailing voyages.

Nick says he is passionate about the cause due to the time his own dad spent in and out of care homes as a boy - and is taking on an ultramarathon challenge as a tribute to him.

With the charity reaching its 20th anniversary and Nick's dad sadly passing last year, he is keen to raise funds for the refit of a boat to give the opportunities to local children that his father didn't have.

He said: "My dad had a troubled childhood and was kicked out of his home at just 13.

"He spent his youth in and out of care homes and never really knowing what to do with himself.

"However he got inspired by sailing after reading a book about a guy who went around the world.

"He ended up buying a wee dinghy and teaching himself to sail. It was what have him purpose and he ended up doing really well for himself, despite his upbringing."

Nick says that his dad's experiences, paired with his own struggles at school, stoked his passion for Ocean Youth Trust's ideals.

He added: "I never did very well academically and eventually, through a work placement scheme, I ended up with the Ocean Youth Club, the predecessor to the trust.

"All of my opportunities stemmed from that, as well as the inspiration I took from my dad.

"He was the one who got me in to sailing and if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be in the lucky position of getting to help other people now.

"He has left a lasting legacy and I want to do the ultramarthon in memory of him.

"I think he would be really pleased that the money raised is going towards helping disadvantaged children through sailing."

Nick went on to be a skipper at Inverkip and even offered his services in an around the world race.

Since joining Ocean Youth Trust Scotland, the charity has helped over 140,000 children across the country by taking them on sailing voyages to teach them skills transferable to their life.

The charity are hoping to raise around £50,000 over the course of this year to fund the refit and Nick's effort will go towards facilitating the facelift of the 20-year-old Alba Adventurer.

As a volunteer crew member with Largs lifeboat, Nick is fitting his training in to his already busy schedule.

He is hoping to complete the 55km challenge in the Lake District in 10 hours and says Largs is the perfect training ground.

He said: "I have been running along the prom in the morning and then at the weekend through the back hills, the perfect terrain to prepare me."

To support Nick visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NickFleming3

Anyone interested in fundraising for the Trust is asked to contact 722722.