Gary Ross has laid down the challenge to all fitness instructors around the Hastings as he pursues a world record next month in Port Macquarie.

It appears an unlikely quest – 1000 repetitions of his body weight in under one hour, but it’s one the ultra-fit 56-year-old believes is possible.

“This is one of the hardest things you will ever see in your life; there’s no luck, no skill, the fittest will win and I believe I can do it,” he said.

Ross quickly points out the reason is not to show off, but to raise funds for NSW Cancer Council in memory of his mum and sister who both suffered with the disease before sadly passing away.

Whether the community can spare five, 10 or 20 cents per repetition, or one dollar per repetition isn’t of great concern for him.

“I don’t get anything for it, I don’t want anything for it; I just want to achieve it for my family and know my sister and mum would be saying good on you Gaz,” he said.

“People in cancer go through pain; this is a different type of pain.

“I believe with the pain I’m going through, I’m mentally very strong and I’m always thinking of my family and my mum and my sister.

“They’re with me up there somewhere.”

Ross played rugby league for South Sydney and Eastern Suburbs back in the late-70s and early 80s before he had a serious motorcycle accident in 1984.

Since then he’s had no less than 20 operations but has fought his way back to fitness.

“The bench press will be the toughest for me because I’ve had major operations on both shoulders and six operations on my elbow,” he said.

“My strength in my upper body is nothing like my lower body, but I pace myself and work harder on the other ones.”

He is more than happy for the challenge to become a team event.

“They can have two against me if they want, or three, but they have to do the same as me per body weight and let’s see how fit the F45 are and the crossfitters are,” he said.

“Let’s see the best athletes raise money for cancer and go up against an old man like me.”

Ross will do bench press, squats, deadlifts, lat pulldowns and a seated row totalling 1000 repetitions.

“It’s not just a little record, it’s an open world record. I’m nearly 60 years old and out of every age in the world, no one has ever done this,” he said.

The challenge will take place at Challenge Fitness on January 12.

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