A KEEN outdoor sportsman from Stokesley has taken on an End to End challenge with a difference to raise money for charity.
Stuart Walker, 24 , has come up with the British Isles Challenge, a journey that will see him travel from the most southerly tip of the Scilly Isles to the most northerly edge of the Shetland Islands, using only his own power to travel.
He will sea kayak, run, road and mountain bike, row and swim across the UK to raise £10,000 for the NSPCC, Water for Kids and Avert HIV and Aids.
He will also tackle each of the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales on the way.
The 1,400 mile expedition sets off at the end of this month (June) and will take about four weeks to complete.
His mammoth task has been commended by adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who has been named as nominal patron of the expedition.
Stuart, who works as a buildings engineer, has been a keen fell runner and mountain biker since he was a teenager, but this is the first time he has tackled anything on this scale.
"Lots of people do the Lands End to John O’Groats cycle ride, so I decided to include the Scilly Isles and Shetland Islands," he said.
"Obviously you can’t cycle across the sea, so I came up with the idea of doing the journey without using an engine and it went from there."
Stuart will be joined by friends for some sections of the journey but he alone will complete the full trip. "I’m a bit worried that when I get towards the end I’ll be exhausted, because I’ve never done anything like this, but I’m doing it for three great causes so I’m sure it will be worth it," he said.
To follow Stuart’s challenge, or to donate, visit www.britishisleschallenge.co.uk
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