Training for a triathlon is serious work requiring determination, dedication - and for one participant, a sense of humour.

Luckily Chris Fraser, of Observatory Road, East Sheen, has all of these qualities, even managing to laugh at himself when he fell off his bike in the middle of a park while preparing for this weekend’s London Triathlon.

Mr Fraser said: “It’s certainly hard work, I’ve [been training] recently more or less every day doing something.

“It was funny when I bought a bike with clip in pedals as I fell off and almost knocked a lot of cyclists over in the process.”

But the 38-year-old, who owns tanker chartering company NorthStar, is keen to point out that despite the laughs his triathlon effort is for a serious cause.

Mr Fraser will be taking part in the running, riding, and swimming challenge to raise money for Debra, a charity that works on behalf of people in the UK with the genetic skin blistering condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).

He said: “Somebody that I lost touch with [and later heard about] lost his son to this cruel disease and obviously it was a very sad story.

“EB is currently an incurable genetic skin condition which causes the skin to blister and shear at the slightest touch. The condition is always painful, very disabling and in its most severe form babies die within the first two years of their life.

“It’s a very good cause it just doesn’t get much publicity.”

The enthusiastic triathlon entrant, who has dropped three waist sizes through training, will take on the fitness challenge at London’s Docklands on Sunday and has set himself a target of less than two-and-a-half hours to finish.

He added: “I’ve had a lot of encouragement from friends and family.

“They all think I’m mad but there’s a general perception that I’m a bit obsessive and really go for it.”

To sponsor Mr Fraser visit justgiving.com/Chris-Fraser0.