A RUNNER tackling 500 miles in France during Euro 2016 has already reached his £1,000 charity target just five days in.

Cameron Humphries, 24, from Colchester, created a football-themed challenge to raise money for charity RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa) Fighting Blindness.

Since starting in Paris last Friday, he has run nearly 125 miles and is now heading 150 miles towards Lille, which Cameron is set to complete in less than 72 hours.

His plan was to support research into finding a cure for RP, a group of inherited diseases which cause gradual damage to the retina, and led to both his father Graham, 55, and uncle Glynn being registered blind.

But the football fan also wanted to take photos with fans as he visited eight stadiums in seven cities across France.

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He said: “I’m absolutely chuffed to get to the £1,000 mark for what is a very worthy charity.

“Most people won’t have heard of RP, but they’ve been incredibly generous and it’s great to reach my target so early.

“I wanted an iconic starting point for the trip and the Arc de Triomphe edged out the Eiffel Tower.

“After taking a few pictures I ran the six miles to the Stade de France in the northern suburb of Saint Denis.

“From Paris the landscape has changed pretty dramatically and with each mile the roads seem to have gotten quieter and the houses are further apart.

“But the French countryside is pretty beautiful.

“Wednesday was my third stadium for the Russia-Slovakia game and yesterday I clocked up 20 miles for the England-Wales match in Lens.

“It’s going to be nice to have a few beers after the first hard section of the trip.”

RP Fighting Blindness works hard to stimulate and fund cutting-edge research to find a treatment or cure and support those affected.

To follow Cameron, visit his Twitter account @RunningTheEuros.

Donate at justgiving.com/fundraising/Cameron-Humphries.