Perthshire long distance cyclist Mark Beaumont is lending his support to a new campaign which helps feed children in some of world’s poorest communities.

Anyone who sets up a new monthly direct debit to Mary’s Meals before August 31 will have their first three donations tripled, thanks to a group of generous supporters, including The Bishop Radford Trust.

The funding boost will enable the global school feeding charity to reach more children with a daily school meal in 19 of the world’s poorest countries where it works.

The supporters behind the initiative have made funds available up to £100,000 which means the kindness of new regular givers to Mary’s Meals who sign up this summer will go three times as far.

The extra funding also means that for those whose already have a regular gift in place to Mary’s Meals and would like to increase their donation, every additional penny will be tripled.

Mary’s Meals was founded in Argyll in 2002 and has grown from feeding 200 children in Malawi to now reaching more than 1.8 million around the world.

Blairgowrie boy Mark, who holds a world record for cycling 18,000 miles around the globe in less than 79 days, and recently set another record time for cycling from Land’s End to John o’ Groats in 39 hours and 40 minutes as part of a relay, is supporting Mary Meals’ new regular giving campaign.

“This is a unique opportunity for regular donations from new and existing Mary’s Meals supporters to go the extra mile,” he said.

“It’s the perfect time to join Mary’s Meals as a regular giver, as each penny will go three times further for children in the world’s poorest communities.

“At the schools in the countries where Mary’s Meals works, like Malawi, Haiti and Ethiopia, each meal costs an average of 8p, so this summer’s funding boost will change the lives of many hungry children.

“I’m delighted to support this initiative, as it makes a little giving from individuals go a long way towards creating a brighter future for children in the world’s poorest countries, ensuring they have a daily nutritious meal at school and the chance to learn and flourish.”

The promise of a daily meal in school attracts impoverished children to the classroom, where they can gain an education that will one day be their ladder out of poverty.

The average global cost to feed a child with Mary’s Meals for a whole school year is just £15.90.

Director of supporter engagement at Mary’s Meals Gillian McMahon said: “We’re very excited to have this wonderful opportunity to access significant funding this summer to boost the impact of regular gifts to Mary’s Meals.

“We’re so grateful to our generous supporters for making this happen.

“The promise of a recurring donation, whatever size, gives us the confidence to plan future expansions and will give more hungry children the gifts of food, joy and hope.

“This funding boost will help Mary’s Meals move closer to the incredible milestone of feeding two million children worldwide.”