A man from Lincolnshire is preparing to walk 125 miles in 3 days to raise funds for a local charity

Mark Stones has put together a small band of hikers to walk over 125 miles in just three days. The group will travel from Filey, near Scarborough through to the Priory Hotel in Louth, a route that includes nearly two miles of ascent… that's one third the height of Everest .

Mark says that he's taken on challenges in the past, but not quite like this:

“The support has been incredible and I’ve had quite a lot of people asking to come with us on this…Some have seen how many miles we have to cover per day thought better of it! As much as I’d love people to join me on it- it’s only if they’re ready, and their support to the cause is worth more than anything."

The cause that Mark and his team will be supporting is the restaurant Serendipity at the Priory hotel. It’s an initiative offering jobs, opportunity and support for people who were previously held back due to learning difficulties, trauma and incarceration. During the lock down, they cooked and delivered over 100,000 free hot meals.

The man behind the business, Paul Hugill, believes that people are not their labels nor should they be defined by their past.

"People need a chance to shine, and sometimes a second chance."

“We’re working a lot more with younger people sometimes with learning difficulties, sometimes behavioural problems, but what this money will give us a chance to do is increase the number of opportunities.”

Paul was given an MBE for Services to People with Learning Difficulties in this year's honours list.

The funds raised from Mark will be used directly to help more people in the community. They will be used to create more jobs at the initiative which will give people the chance and support to succeed.

“The way the Priory works, is that it’s not a conventional business in the sense that we don’t advertise a job.. we meet a person and create a job around them. It’s to respond to the needs of the community. To create jobs for people who need them, to create jobs to give people a purpose and to give people direction. “

“By Mark doing this, he not only raises money and builds awareness.. but he creates energy and momentum going forward."

"He is the loveliest guy and so dedicated."

"For him to give up not just the 3 days he’s walking, but the time before preparing and recovering afterwards.. for someone to show that kind of willingness for the team, it inspires me."

Mark will be training by walking 12km everyday until the challenge in July. He’s set up a Facebook page where people can keep up to date with his journey as he trains for the challenge.

The team are hoping to make this an annual event to inspire more people to get out walking to improve their mental health, as well as raise vital funds for the business.

The team have set up a donation page to support the cause, which can be found here.