Best foot forward for Upper Gornal walker (From Dudley News)

Best foot forward for Upper Gornal walker

10:10am Wednesday 9th May 2012 in Local

AN Upper Gornal man is getting set to put his best foot forward in a 100km walk at the weekend, in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Gavin Ellis, aged 35, will be taking part in the London 2 Brighton Challenge Walk on Saturday, walking capital to coast all in one go.

Gavin, from Quarry Brow, is hoping to complete the event in 24 hours and raise £1,000 and has been busy training over the last 12 weeks.

He said: “I am nervous about doing it but I am looking forward to it.

“I managed to walk 30 miles in one go without blisters the other day, which was brilliant. It will definitely be a personal challenge for me, especially walking day and night and I’m expecting it to hurt a lot, but it is worth it to raise money for such a great cause.”

Cancer Research UK is a charity close to Gavin’s heart, after losing a colleague to the disease.

But Gavin, who works for InterContinental Hotels Group, in their Brierley Hill call centre, is no stranger to completing adventurous challenges for charity, after raising thousands of pounds over the last five years for Guide Dogs for the Blind, Multiple Sclerosis Society UK and Cancer Research UK through marathons and walks.

His commendable fundraising efforts have even secured him a coveted place as a London 2012 Olympic Torchbearer, when he is set to carry the torch through Wolverhampton on June 30.

To sponsor Gavin visit justgiving.com/Gavin-Ellis