A FORMER Teesdale resident is hoping to raise more than £10,000 for a cancer charity and kids camp by walking from Land’s End to John o’Groats this summer.
Kevin Dowson, who grew up in Copley but moved to Derby in the early 1990s, is marking his 60th birthday in May by attempting to walk the length of the UK in just 60 days.
He will donate cash to Macmillan Cancer Support and a volunteer organisation near his home, Derby Kids Camp.
He said: “Teesdale and Barney are always home to me – in fact I keep spotting myself in some of the old pictures in the Teesdale Mercury. My parents still live in Copley and it’s always great to come home.
“Over the years, myself and members of my family have undertaken a number of fundraising challenges and events.
“I know first hand the difference that every pound can make, and as this might be my final major challenge, I really want to push myself to my limit.”
His epic journey of 1,047 miles,will mean he has to complete a gruelling 18 miles every day.
He added: “I have completed charity treks in the past raising much-needed funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, but this is my biggest challenge to date.”
Mr Dowson said his charity trekking started 16 years ago when he completed the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, in
Peru.
Since then he has walked some of the most stunning routes in the world including the Grand Canyon, in America, and the Annapurna trek, in Nepal, as well as ascending the world’s highest free-standing mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania.
He added: “The last trek I did was Mount Kilimanjaro ten years ago.
“This time I have planned to take 60 days and combine an on and off road route taking in the John o’Groats trail, the Pennine Way, the Heart of England Way as well as the Cotswold Way.”
For more information about Mr Dowson’s charity walking, visit https://
bit.ly/39HQt98
