A Wrexham man has pledged to walk more than 573 miles to raise money for the children and families who use our services.

Paul Edwards, 54, has chosen to do the Three Peaks Challenge, but with one huge difference! As well as climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in the Lake District, and Snowdon in Wales, he will walk all of the miles in between them too.

Paul will begin his challenge in Fort William on May 23, and hopes to reach his local pub, The Cross Foxes in Pen Y Cae, for a celebratory finish on June 13.

“I want to support Hope House because I haven’t got kids myself and I can’t begin to imagine what it must be like for parents when their children are seriously ill,” he explained.

“My hobby is running marathons and ultra-marathons, and last year I walked 150 miles from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff to the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham for Hope House. But this is going to be my hardest challenge by far, and I hope I can raise lots of money for this brilliant charity.”

A Marathon a day

Paul is taking annual leave from his job as a machinist to complete the challenge, and is completely self-funding his solo effort, staying at B and B’s along the way and hoping to average a marathon per day for each of the 22 days of the walk. He is currently training by walking the eight miles to and from work each day.

“I’ve worked out a route that takes in mainly paths and trails, such as the Cumbrian Way, the Lancaster Canal towpath and the Welsh Coastal Path,” he explains.

“It will be quite lonely, but that kind of goes with the territory with long distance walking and running!”

Local businesses are already starting to support Paul in his adventure, including Bynmoor Foods Ltd in Chester who have pledged to supply him with flapjacks and other energy-giving foods to keep him going during the challenge.

“It is not going to be easy, but the thought of being able to help Hope House and the children will keep me going. All I need now is for people to sponsor me and help make a real difference for to as many seriously ill children as possible,” added Paul.

You can sponsor Paul today at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Paul-Edwards500miles.