A YOUNG barber’s shop assistant will attempt to row the equivalent of 100,000 metres in a day to raise money for charity.

John Evans, aged 20, who works at Dean Cocozza’s Barbers in Deansgate, Bolton, will have 10 and a half hours to complete the gruelling task on Saturday, starting at 5am, when the shop opens.

If he finishes the challenge on a rowing machine, he will have rowed more than 62 miles before 4pm.

Mr Evans hopes to raise hundreds of pounds for 27-year-old cancer victim Natalie Kerr, from Adlington, who has already raised £40,000 for pioneering stem cell treatment in America.

The money will go towards buying Christmas presents for Miss Kerr’s children.

The £750 rowing machine, which was donated by Body Active in Great Moor Street, Bolton, will be raffled after the event to raise more money.

Mr Evans’ uncle, barber shop owner Dean Cocozza, who is organising the event, said he had the idea to support Miss Kerr after reading about her in The Bolton News He said: “We read the paper every day and, if we see someone who is having a bit of a rough time, we’ll help them.”