A priest has set himself the challenge of completing 52 laps of an athletic track 83 times in a year to raise money for a new Chapel Organ at Saint Mary's University in Twickenham.

Music-loving priest Prof Monsignor Vladimir Felzmann, AKA Fr Vlad, hopes to raise £500,000 by doing laps of The Sir Mo Farah Athletics Track at the university.

The 52 laps represent his 52 years as a priest, and the 83 reps are a nod to his age.

Fr Vlad said: "My aim is to give back to our Chapel its voice so that the beauty of its music may, once again, awaken and open hearts to our Creator, God.

"Having trained as a Civil Engineer before becoming a priest, I believe that walk trumps talk.

"As Matthew 25,40 teaches, we shall be judged on what we did – not just said, so I'm putting on my walking shoes to make sure the wonderful Chapel at St Mary's that means so much to me can fulfil its potential."

View his fundraising page here.

Fr Vlad has a long relationship with St Mary's University, where he is a Visiting Professor and heads up the Sport, Wellbeing, Inclusion, Faith (SWIFT) research centre.

He will be joined by St Mary's students, staff, and alumni along his challenge.

He has already raised nearly £40,000 towards his fundraising goal.

His 52 laps add up to 20.8km, just 300m short of a half marathon. Fr Vlad is aiming to complete each of his 83 track sessions in around four hours.

By the end of the challenge he will have completed 1726 kilometres, or 1066 miles. This equates to the distance from St Mary's University all the way to the edge of Europe in Cadiz, Spain!

The Chapel and the organ

Overlooking the main Piazza, the Chapel is at the heart of the St Mary's University life. With Mass said there daily for the local and University community, it is also an important venue for Christian communities.

In recent years the Chapel has welcomed Pope Benedict XVI, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople of the Eastern Orthodox Church Bartholomew I of Constantinople, former Archbishop of Canterbury Rt Rev Rt Hon Prof Baron Rowan Williams, and the then Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland Rt Rev Richard Clarke.

The University said it wants to expand and enhance these current uses, while also breaking new ground in pursuing linkages between music and disciplines such as theology and drama.

St Mary's will also utilise it in extending our outreach to local schools, unlocking the Chapel's full potential as a resource for music, art, and religious education.

Composer and Conductor Sir James MacMillan CBE said: "There is something wonderful and life-enhancing when a commitment to musical excellence, a concern for beauty in the liturgy and a deep knowledge of and education in the arts all come together.

"These aspirations have always been dear to me.

"Therefore I am delighted that St Mary's University is demonstrating ambition in all these fields as it approaches the celebration of its 175th anniversary.

"Central to this determination is the desire to give new life to the place of the organ and the profound music it can make in the University Chapel, both in liturgical and concert contexts.

"The renewal of this instrument would be a significant step forward and I am delighted to lend my support to this appeal."