TO raise money for two local charities a former communications manager for the Northern Devon Healthcare Trust has completed a ‘630-mile crusade against cancer’.

Jim Bray, 36, recently completed an eight-week walking challenge around the entire South West Coast Path in aid of two local charities, ‘Over and Above’ and ‘FORCE’, who both support cancer patients and their families.

The trek, entitled ‘Jim’s Journey’ saw Mr Bray cross nearly 300 bridges, catch 14 ferries, pass around 3,500 coast path signs and go up or down more than 30,000 steps.

He set off from Minehead in Somerset on Friday, June 10, and reached his finish marker at South Haven Point, near Poole in Dorset, on Thursday, August 4.

Jim tracked his journey using a GPS system, which gave a reading at the end of his challenge of around 710-miles and a climb of more than 100,000 feet — three and a half times the height of Mount Everest.

Mr Bray had previously worked at the NDHT for four years before leaving in May to take on the expedition. Speaking on his journey around the South West Coast Path, he said: “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I’m very glad I decided to do it.

“Some of the scenery is beautiful and awe-inspiring and you can only see the most spectacular views by walking, quite often up steep hills or along difficult terrain.

“I particularly liked the unique features of North Devon, the pretty green cliffs of North Cornwall, the rocky coastline around St Ives and the closing stretch through Dorset.

“It was challenging at times, mentally as much as physically, but my legs seemed to get programmed into walking up to 15 or 20 miles a day and as time went by I stopped feeling tired.

“The weather was fairly kind overall and I managed to stay healthy, despite having sore feet at times and a few aches, pains, bites and stings.”

Jim said he had a few other issues to contend with, unrelated to walking, he said: “Unfortunately my left front tooth fell out into my breakfast in Weymouth, two days from the end. I’m hoping to have it reinstated at the dentist this Wednesday.”

Although having to overcome tooth loss, he said that one of his highlights in Cornwall was the attractive green cliffs between Bude and Padstow.

Mr Bray wanted to express his thanks to The Beach at Bude for sponsoring him and putting him up for two nights, and to the Port William at Trebarwith Strand, who also sponsored him.

He told the Post his worst day for weather was unfortunately the stretch from Hartland Quay to Bude, adding: “I was looking forward to that section — it’s regarded as one of the most difficult of the whole lot. I didn’t get to see any sites until I got to the golden sandy beaches of Bude.”

Mr Bray’s guidebook suggested this stretch, which takes in ten river valleys, could take eight and a half hours to walk, but due to the bad weather, and taking less photos as a result, Mr Bray walked it in five hours and 50 minutes.

He then took a rest day in Bude before continuing to Crackington Haven, and beyond.

During his ‘crusade against cancer’, Mr Bray took thousands of photos of the scenery and people are now able to view these in his daily albums on Facebook by searching for ‘Jim’s Journey’.

So far Mr Bray has exceeded his initial target of £5,000 by almost £2,000. The money he raises for Over and Above will go towards the Seamoor Unit, the new £2.5-million chemotherapy and day treatment centre at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple.

However, there is still chance for people to donate and support his fundraising efforts for the charities Over and Above and FORCE by going visiting uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JimsJourney.