A man is trekking England’s longest national trail in a 30-day challenge to raise money for two cancer charities.

Luke Williams, 34, will be walking 630 miles along the Southwest coast in 30 days.

Mr Williams – a sales manager at Carpet Trade Bicester – will set off from Minehead on August 26 and will average around 20 miles each day to finish in Swanage on September 30.

The challenge marks 10 years since Mr Williams lost his dad Tad Williams to cancer in July 2012.

Since his dad’s passing, he has raised £35,000 for various cancer charities, and for this challenge he hopes to raise £630 which will be split between two charities – Cancer Research UK and SeeSaw.

Mr Williams said: “Unfortunately cancer has been a big part of my life since my dad was first diagnosed.

“10 years on and in some ways it only feels like yesterday we were playing golf together, but we all miss him every day.

“As a family, we don’t want anyone to go through what we did with dad, so Cancer Research is incredibly close to our hearts.

Read more: A new post office is opening in Bicester

“I’m also walking for my friend Steve who died from cancer in 2018.

“He had a young family and SeeSaw has been an incredible support for them, so I hope through my fundraising I can give something back.”

Mr Williams plans to camp for some of the trip as well as taking up offers of accommodation from friends along the way.

He will also be joined on different parts of the route by friends and family.

For Mr Williams, this is the latest in a number of challenges he has completed for cancer research, including a one-million-step-in-one-month challenge in 2021.

He added: “Every time I take on another challenge it feels like my biggest yet, but I know this is going to push me to my limits.

“Some days I’ll be walking the length of a marathon, and then pitching a tent for the night before starting again.

“The route is also full of ascents and descents – the equivalent of scaling Mount Everest four times.

“I’m starting to get nervous, but I know the ones we’ve lost will be with me and their memories will spur me on.”

Mr Williams has been working 6-day weeks since May to ensure he can get paid whilst doing the walk.

He said he will be tired when he begins the walk, but that his employers have been very helpful and kind to him.

To donate to Mr William’s cause, visit: Luke Williams is fundraising for Stand Up To Cancer - a Cancer Research UK campaign (justgiving.com)

 

Read more from this author

This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1

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