Chris Bamber from Kinmel Bay has raised a fantastic £5,099 for local children living with life-threatening conditions and their families.

The 56-year-old carpenter took on the 270-mile Pennine Way trek single handedly in early May for Hope House Tŷ Gobaith.

In what he called a “blistering heatwave” Chris completed the challenge in just eight and a half days - even running the last nine miles.

Thank You Just Isn't Enough

“I had to reverse my days due to the heat and was getting up at 4am from wild camping to get going by 5am to beat the blistering heat,” he said.

“The ground was hard underfoot, which made it a bit easier as I wasn’t treading through mud.

“Most of the rivers were bone dry along the way.”

Not even a knee injury and losing four toenails could stop the intrepid adventurer who slept in a tent every night bar one in a hostel.

“My knee was heavily strapped as I’d injured it a month earlier in training but managed to push on for this great cause.

“I’m gob-smacked by the amount of money I raised and can’t thank everybody enough.

“Times are hard for everyone right now, but people still dug deep and helped me raise this amazing sum.

“Thank you just isn’t enough,” Chris said.

35 Miles Per Day

Grabbing what food he could along the way, and with dry rations and plenty of nutty chocolate bars in his chest pack, Chris was motoring through 35 miles per day on average and even hit 70,000 steps one day.

The final leg on his journey was certainly a memorable one and miraculously he managed to run the last nine miles.

Chris said: “I’d got to my destination of a bothy that day for a rest when a Fell Runner I’d met earlier in the day stopped in.

“He was continuing, so I decided to join him, and we ran the last bit together.”

Chris isn’t hanging up his charity walking boots yet and is considering another tough challenge.

“Everest Base Camp has been on my to list,” he quipped.

Thank You

Sian Golding, Area fundraiser for Tŷ Gobaith was supporting Chris, and said: “Chris is such an inspirational guy.

“He’s so positive and committed to supporting local children and families.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the amount he raised through his efforts and kind sponsors.

“So many local children living with a life-threatening condition will benefit from this as every penny raised will go directly to provide respite, nursing and family support at our hospices.

“Thank you, Chris.”