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Charlie's amazing challenge begins in the spring of 2009, when he competes in the Marathon des Sables desert event, which will see him run SIX marathons in SIX days across the Sahara Desert in Morocco.

"This is something I've wanted to do for 10 years or so, but never got around to doing it. I eventually got my entry list and I was given a place for the 2009 race," he explains.

"It's there to be done and many people have done it and I do consider myself a fit person," he says. "It's more about pushing yourself mentally and whether you are able to cope with the endurance of it all."

Charlie has been in training for over 18 months

Later on in the year, in December, he will take part in the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race - a 3,000 mile solo rowing challenge across the Atlantic Ocean.

Charlie was inspired to take part in the event after reading about the similar journey by James Cracknell and Ben Fogle.

Like them, Charlie, 45, will tackle the high seas in a specially designed vessel, which is currently being built in Devon.

The purpose of Charlie's double-adventure, aside from the personal challenge, is to raise at least £100,000 for the Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust.

"Sean is very much my right-hand 'ghost' to push me along when I need to be pushed," he says.

Charlie has been in training for the two challenges for over 18 months, but as he explains, both events demand different strengths: "The Marathon des Sables requires a lot of cardio work, a lot of running and a lot of lower body strength and little upper-body strength.

"The rowing requires totally the opposite and requires some fat reserves as well. So it's quite a difficult thing to marry them together, but I'm just really focusing on the running to start with."

Without doubt the task Charlie has set himself is monumental, but which of the two does he see as being the most demanding?

The designs for Charlie's trans-atlantic boat

"Definitely the Atlantic rowing race," he answers. "It's a long time alone, it's going to be at least 60 days if I get across - I'm very much hoping I will.

"The Marathon des Sables is something where you can get a lot of encouragement along the way and it is for six days. It is a huge mental and physical test of the body.

"But the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race is something completely different. You're pushing off from the Canary Islands and rowing 3,000 miles," he adds.

"You don't know what the Lord is going to give to you in terms of weather, what the sea is going to do, whether you're going to get attacked by a shark, or whether you're going to be run down by a ship.

"So there's an awful lot more going on there and it's a long time on your own."

To find out more about Charlie's superhuman challenge, click on the links below.