LAUNCESTON’s Andy Glasspool has walked 21-miles across Dartmoor to try and raise £1,500 for a sound field system for the deaf at Lewannick Primary School.

Andy, who works as the technical sales advisor at Continental Underfloor, based in Launceston, completed the feat on Sunday, August 6, in ten hours and one minute, alongside work colleague David Wormell, who helped him plan the route.

Andy’s six-year-old son, Harry, who attends Lewannick Primary School, suffers from severe deafness, and has had to wear hearing aids since he was three months old.

Until recently, there was a sound field system in place at the school that enhances the ability for people to hear the teachers, but with the loan agreement having ran out at the end of term, Andy took it upon himself to try and raise the £1,500 needed for a permanent installation of a Phonak (A company that specialise in sounding systems for the deaf) sound field system at the school.

The system will be able to give Harry and a classmate who also suffers from deafness, the chance to be able to hear their teachers clearly by linking with their hearing aids.

On their practice walk a fortnight previously, Andy found it difficult on a damp day.

But with the weather warm and a lovely breeze blowing across Dartmoor, right from the start at 8am, the conditions on the day were much more to his liking.

Andy said: “The walk was extremely tough as you can imagine. We did a circular route starting and finishing at Belstone.

“There were certain parts such as the 7.5-mile walk from Hangingstone Hill to Dinger Tor, which was horrible. We had to walk almost in a zig-zag up hill and it took us ages to get there. But once we got past there it was alright and the weather helped as the conditions were ideal for walking.”

Once they got back to Belstone, Andy was greeted by Harry who was more than keen to get involved.

Andy said: “When we finished I saw Harry, which was obviously great. The first thing he said to me was, ‘that looks really cool can we do it now?’ which made us laugh.

“But he knows why we’ve done it and he’s extremely chuffed with what we’ve been able to do so that’s the main thing.”

After the challenge, he initially struggled with the understandable soreness, but while most people would want to spend the next day in bed recovering, there were further funds to be raised.

Andy’s wife, Mel, along with her friend Sam Dinnis, had organised a superhero fun run around the school playing fields which added up to nearly a mile.

On a day where a bouncy castle, barbecue and food amongst other things were on offer, £350 was raised, meaning just £150 is needed for the installation of the sound field system.

Andy is now hoping to have the system installed by the end of September so the children can have their learning experience enhanced, and is keen to praise the support of everyone who has helped him and his wife in this mission.

He said: “First of all I’d like to thank David [Wormell] for not only planning the route for me but also doing it with me. Secondly I’d like to thank, Mel and Sam for organising the fun run and to everyone who has supported us so far.”

To support and donate to an excellent cause, visit www.crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Andy-TenTors

ABOVE: Andy takes a well deserved drink and a chance to rest his legs.

LEFT: A superhero fun run was also held in Lewannick Primary School to help raise the £1,500 needed for a sound field system in the school.