ROLLERCOASTER fanatic Mark Lewis will take the ride of his life this week as he attempts to raise more than £1,000 for charity.

Mark, from Ebbw Vale, will attempt to spend 40 hours on Oakwood theme park’s Megafobia ride to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London.

Mark’s challenge started on Monday (July 14) and will involved spending up to 10 hours a day on the wooden rollercoaster.

The 44-year-old, who works at Llanarth Court Hospital, is hoping to raise more than £1,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

The cause is close to Mark’s heart as his son Ryan, who is now 18, was born with a rare blood disorder and was treated at the hospital as a baby.

“When Ryan was in hospital, I stood in a lift and we were worried sick about our child at the time.

"But there was a little baby in the lift with a cleft palate who was very ill. I just thought, imagine what that young child and the family is going through.

“Despite what our child was going through, there were always going to be children much worse. That’s what has pushed me on to be honest, it is completely worth it,” he added.

And this is not the first time the part-time DJ has ridden Megafobia for charity. In 1996, he raised £1,100 for the children’s ward at Nevill Hall Hospital, and in 2010 he rode the attraction for seven hours to raise £1,200 for the Golden Grove Mansion Appeal.