Kevin Bresnan from Midsomer Norton took on a challenge to walk fifty miles non-stop from Weymouth to Wells earlier this month.

Kevin was inspired to raise funds for Children’s Hospice South West’s Charlton Farm, situated in North Somerset, as it provides respite stays for him and his son Caleb, who has a life-limiting condition called Alagille Syndrome.

The whole family is able to come at stay at Charlton Farm, not just Caleb, for short breaks throughout the year. Kevin wanted to set himself a challenge to raise funds for the hospice, as a way of saying thank you for the support he and his family receives.

Kevin said: “I got the train to Weymouth, where I started the long walk back home. It was a warm evening, and I set off at a good pace. It wasn’t long before I started the long climb out of Weymouth, which warmed me up nicely!

“Then onto the long eighteen-mile stretch of nothing but fields and darkness. At the start of this stage, I had already blistered my foot. This made walking quite uncomfortable, but I had to just shut it out and carry on.

“I arrived in Sherborne around 5 a.m, in a lot of pain from that blister. I stopped for a change of footwear ready to carry on again. On setting off again, the pain in my legs and feet was getting unbearable, but I was determined to carry on. So off I set and down came the rain!

“It rained hard and consistently. Before long I was wet through and very tired. I continued for a few more hours, not covering much mileage as the pain was slowing me down.

“At one stage I nearly passed out because of the pain and I could feel my body shutting down. I stopped in a small village about fifteen miles from home to rest, but couldn’t move from that spot. My legs were seizing up and I was shivering from the cold and wet.

“I decided to stop as I could see myself ending up in hospital, so I called for a pickup. To say I was disappointed not to complete the full course, being so close to home, would be an understatement, but I had to think of my health.”

Emily Mitchard, Community Fundraiser at CHSW, said: “We have nothing but admiration for Kevin and the challenge he set himself. He really has put himself through such a lot, physically and

emotionally. We would like to thank him for his efforts and his superb fundraising, which has far exceeded his original target.”