*Daily updates on my Instagram @andyrealize

First of all thank you for taking the time to view my fundraiser!

So here we go, I am going to be walking the Wainwrights Coast to Coast national trail solo and unsupported, totalling an estimated distance of 192 miles from St Bees on the Western Cumbrian coastline across the width of England eventually ending up on the Eastern shoreline at Robin Hoods Bay in North Yorkshire. It will be over 400,000 steps and an estimated total ascent of around 8,534m (28,000ft) as I cross the 3 national parks along the route. I am hoping to complete the challenge in around 10-14 days, which will consist of back to back hiking, camping and the occasional stay in nearby accommodation to recover and recharge my electricals. I will be posting updates on my Instagram account at @andyrealize and I will also be attempting to record most of the challenge for a future YouTube video, mainly for me to have something to look back on but also as evidence of completing the challenge. I am also hoping to record each days stretch on Strava.

I have been wanting to complete this challenge for a while now however I felt that it was also a great opportunity to try and raise some money for a couple of good causes along the way. With that being said, please do not feel that you need to donate, just giving this fundraiser a share is more than enough if making a donation is not viable for you at the moment. Any amount raised is better than none at all so I will be absolutely made up if we can even reach the target.

50% of all donations will be made out to Brain Research UK on behalf of my good friend Ben aka Middo. I'm sure that most of you are already aware of the reasons why this one means a lot however to sum up Ben had a very unfortunate accident and suffered from a traumatic brain injury. Thanks to the unbelievable life saving work of all the doctors and nurses he's since battled on through his recovery against all the odds like a true soldier, in fact I was just sat with him a couple of weekends ago enjoying a pint or 2 (or 4 if you drink as fast as Middo does). If you are reading this Middo, you are a true inspiration my friend and I will be thinking about you on this walk. Brain Research UK specialise in supporting research into the causes, treatment, prevention and cure of neurological conditions including injuries to the brain and spinal cord. Their aim under this theme is to improve recovery in people who have suffered an injury to their brain or spinal cord – including traumatic injuries from accidents, assaults and falls, and non-traumatic injuries such as strokes.

The other 50% of all donations will be made out to the Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team based in North Yorkshire. The reason for this is that I felt it was only right to give back to a cause which is closely related to the walk that I will be completing. This particular mountain rescue team cover a large region of the coast to coast national trail and the team is solely made up of volunteers who make themselves available any time day or night, 365 days a year in order to assist in mountain and cave rescue services. We've all seen the popular tv shows of various rescue services and the efforts that these people go to in order to save lives in the most difficult situations. I can't think of a more worthy cause in relation to the challenge that I am attempting.

Thank you so much once again for checking out this fundraiser, see you on the trails!