The co-owner of a Chester tattoo club raised more than £2,000 competing in one of the world’s toughest Ironman races for a charity close to his heart.

Gavin Gallimore, who works at Minerva Lodge Tattoo Club on Upper Northgate Street, took part in the Lanzarote Ironman event on May 21 when he swam 2.4 miles, cycled 112 miles and ran a marathon on the Spanish island.

The 34-year-old did it to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy UK as his friend’s son, seven-year-old Jacob Adams, suffers from congenital myotonic muscular dystrophy – a rare form of the muscle wasting disease which is currently untreatable.

Related: Chester tattoo club to appear on Channel 4 show

Remarkably, Gavin only took up serious exercise in 2014 when he decided to complete a half-distance Ironman in Staffordshire. His wife Monique and their sons, two-year-old Frankie and four-year-old Felix, flew out to Lanzarote with him for a three-week holiday while he underwent the Ironman challenge.

Gavin said: “A few of our friends have done events in the past for the charity so I knew that when I was going to do the next one, I wanted to raise money for muscular dystrophy.”

“After the Staffordshire event I decided I would look to do one abroad, I thought it would convince my wife that it was a good idea."

In training for the event, Gavin had to complete seven-hour bike rides and four-hour runs at the weekend.

But he said that knowing his efforts will help to fund more research into a possible cure for muscular dystrophy makes the tough training schedule worthwhile.

Gavin's colleagues at Minerva said: "We are all very proud of Gav here at MLTC, not only for taking part in something as tough as the Ironman challenge but for raising so much money for such an amazing cause."

To donate to Gavin, visit justgiving.com/gavingallimoreIM