DETERMINED fundraiser Dave Holby is this week in the final stretch of a fundraising marathon that has seen him travel around the world on a static rowing machine.

After two years and seven months of back-breaking effort, the finishing line is finally in sight for the popular 29-year-old.

On Saturday afternoon, Dave is set to complete his 40,075km-challenge on a static rowing machine in The Malls shopping centre in Basingstoke town centre.

The fantastic fundraiser, of Rainham Close, Kempshott, Basingstoke, has already raised £15,600 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and he hopes to get as much support as possible in the run-up to the moment he crosses the finishing line on December 18.

Dave said: “Physically, I will be delighted, but emotionally I will be a wreck.”

The challenge to become the first person to row the distance of the equator on a static machine started in May 2008 after bosses at The Guinness World Records said they would create a new category especially for Dave. Moved by the death of his grandmother from breast cancer, the jobbing actor has since become a fixture in The Malls, and his rowing machine is adorned with words of support by well-wishers.

He burns 4,000 calories a day and rows around 350km a week, living on a high-energy diet of pasta mixed with tuna, pesto and cheese.

Along the way, he has scooped seven world records for various endurance rowing challenges, was honoured at this year’s A Place to be Proud Of Awards, and launched a charity album featuring Basingstoke bands. Dave said: “The support from people has been brilliant – without it, I would have cracked.”