A RIBBLE valley fitness fanatic who is best know for helping people lose pounds on TV’s The Biggest Loser, is now hoping to raise a few by taking part in Bell’s Barrel of Laughs in aid of Help for Heroes.

Survival expert Rob Edmond, 40, who has lived in Read for eight years, is set to finish rolling a whisky barrel more than 500 miles from the Blair Athol Distillery in Perthshire to Help For Heroes Recovery Centre at Tedworth House in Wiltshire.

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The former SAS solider has been coaching stars including Rufus Hound, Mark Dolan, Tom Wrigglesworth, Jarred Christmas and Fred MacAulay as they made their way down the country.

The challenge was launched on Monday, March 23, and is set to end today when the barrel finally rolls over the finish line at Tedworth House at the end of the fundraiser.

Volunteers with collection buckets have been flanking the stars as they trek through the streets with the barrel.

Rob said: “This challenge is nothing compared to what many veterans are going through on a day to day basis.

“But it’s certainly going to be tough for the celebrities.

“When I was asked about doing the challenge as soon as they mentioned Bell’s whisky, Help for Heroes and that it would be ‘hard’, I said yes before I knew what I was letting myself in for.

“But it has been great to get out on the road and raise thousands of pounds for the charity.

“It’s great to be doing something for a cause so close to my heart.

“The reaction so far has been fantastic and people have been very generous.

“It has been tough at times but really enjoyable at the same time.

“This challenge is unique in so many ways and it’s for a great cause and I hope that we end up raising a lot of money for the charity.”

Among the locations visited by Rob and the team include Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham.

Bell’s brand manager, Lauren Wahlhaus, said: “We’re delighted to have such a fitness expert as Rob on board.

“He’s so motivated and his positivity has rubbed off on the celebrities and the veterans when the going got tough.”