A SUPERFIT Dudley Council worker who has raised thousands of pounds for charity is planning his next daring adventure through the heart of a South American jungle.

Mayoral attendant Mike Crannage is planning a gruelling 150-mile coast to coast race through the jungles of Costa Rica on February 2 next year.

Last year the energetic 53-year-old ran 150 miles on his own through the Sahara Desert, braving sweltering temperatures and towering sand dunes and the year before he braved temperatures plummeting to minus 30 degrees Celsius for a husky trek across the North Pole.

His latest challenge will see the ex-army man trek, run, climb, abseil and swim the equivalent of almost six marathons through some of the most hazardous terrain.

He will have to complete the distance, from Quepos on the Pacific Coast to Tortuguero on the Caribbean Sea, in just ten days.

The money he raises from the challenge will be donated to the Mayor of Dudley’s charities – Diabetes UK: Stourbridge, Dudley and District Support Group and the Dudley Stroke Association.

Mr Crannage, from Dudley, who has raised thousands of pounds for the Mayoral charities over the past three years, said: “I like to do what I can for charity and I have a very active sense of adventure.

“Working with the Mayor you get to see first hand the work of the charities and that is why I like to get involved with a big charity challenge to raise as much money as possible to help them.”

Councillor Melvyn Mottram, Mayor of Dudley, said: “The charities I have chosen for my Mayoral year are very close to my heart and it is great to see people supporting them.

“What Mike is planning to do is amazing and I hope people will recognise that by giving what they can to support him and the charities.”

Anyone wishing to sponsor Mike or make a charity donation can visit www.mikecrannage.com or email mike.crannage@dudley.gov.uk