I have always been a keen walker from a young age owing to having a Mountain Leader as a father with a keen passion for hill walking and mountaineering, and completed the Coast to Coast walk when I was 13 with my family – this time will be more challenging as I camped the whole way – and carried everything with me for the duration of the walk.

This walk is no bimble in the park. It's a two-week walk across England, starting on the West Coast at St Bee's Head, crossing through some of the most spectacular scenery in the United Kingdom, to finish on the East Coast at Robin Hood's Bay.

I decided in 2008 when I had a change in job that I wanted to focus on my fitness, and needed a challenge. I’d been thinking about the Coast to Coast for a while, and decided in September to set myself a goal of completing the walk and raising money for a deserving charity at the same time.

I am also involved with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Woodbridge Open Group which has allowed me to pass on my passion to other young people undertaking their Gold award, while clocking up the miles in preparation for the walk, and my own Mountain Leaders training.

I chose the Fishermen’s Mission because they carry out the most dangerous job in the world, risking their lives daily to feed us.  Sponsorship raised from this walk will enable the Fishermen’s Mission to provide emergency and welfare support to our fishermen and their families around the coast, where and when they need it the most.

If I reach my target of £2,500 sponsorship, this will equate to approximately £12.50 per mile walked – a very strong incentive when the achy feet have to get up and walk on a cold, wet morning!