WAYNE Dixon and his dog Koda are doing a challenge with a difference — litter-picking the whole of the British coastline to raise awareness of the problem.

Wayne, 45, has suffered from depression from an early age and when his dad John died five years ago he decided to take up the unique challenge of walking just under 7,000 miles in memory of his dad and to raise money for the mental health charity Mind and the Northern Inuit Society; the breed of Koda.

Wayne said: “It’s a lifelong dream of mine and I’m also raising awareness for what I’m passionate about. There’s a lot of social and environmental problems and there needs to be a sense of community again. We’re becoming a selfish country and need to work to a greater level to create a clean environment.

“It’s about raising awareness. We’ve got problems both inland and at sea. If everyone took two minutes to pick up litter then the world would be a better place.”

Wayne’s world was turned upside down in 2012 when his dad John died of a heart attack. Just ten days before his death, his father gave him nine-month-old Koda, who had previously had four owners.

John also left Wayne and his sister Maxine a house. They’ve decided to rent it out and after quitting his job as a care worker, John uses the rent to help fund the mammoth trip.

Starting at Knotts End-on-Sea on February 1 last year, they walked to Glencoe on the West coast of Scotland before spending Christmas at home in Blackburn.

In mid-January they went back to Knotts End-on-Sea and have since remarkably walked solid for ten months and have just reached Porthleven; making it nearly 2,500 miles of walking since starting the trip.

Wayne says that it is something that he’s always wanted to do and praised the people of North Cornwall for their help in the autumn.

He said: “I’ve used walking and long-distance walking and the landscape to help me with my grieving process. I’m fulfilling a goal I’ve had for 26 years, the longer it takes to do the better as I love it. I collect bags of litter in each village or town and then someone from the local council or from BIFFA will come to collect it.”

Wayne said the 10-mile stretch between Bude and Crackington Haven has been the most enjoyable aspect of the trip so far.

He said: “There were five separate groups between Bude and Crackington and it was amazing. There’s such a sense of community spirit and people are so dedicated to keeping their beaches clean. It’s not something they’re doing once a week, they’re out there every day.

“I went to Crooklets, Summerleaze, Widemouth and Crackington and worked with each of them for a day. It’s amazing how a community keeps their beaches clean. They were all so friendly and I can’t talk highly enough of them.”

While in Cornwall, Wayne has been supported by Keep Britain Tidy, Clean Cornwall and BIFFA and has thanked them for their help.

He said: “I’d like to thank all of them for their support, it really has been great. They’ve helped me with a lot of things such as accommodation and getting the word out there.”

After ten months of walking Wayne is understandably having issues with certain parts of his body with all of the things he has to carry but is thankful for everyone’s support.

He said: “Physically I’m okay but my arms and shoulders are suffering a bit although my legs and feet are fine. I’ve got £50 a week for everything I need and I have to carry a full kit of stuff such as a sleeping bag, food and water. I’m always stocking up in pubs and in shops wherever I go.

“I have to carry four litres of water and two days worth of food for me and Koda.

I’m mainly rough sleeping but I’ve been able to stay in some lovely places as well and people have been so friendly and supportive. Someone paid for a night and a meal at the Land’s End Hotel the other day and when I was in Bude I stayed at the Beach House in Widemouth as well as people’s houses and B&Bs.”

Wayne is only just over a third of the way through his journey and it could take another two or three years as he walks on average about five or six miles a day while picking up all the litter.

However, he’s hoping to raise as much money as he can and is hoping that he can help make some changes.

He said: “People now need to realise that we’re at a bit of a catchpoint, the more people who pick up litter, the better.

“Going forward, I want to see official signs from the council, signs of animals struggling to encourage people what can go wrong. Litter-picking is going to keep animals and the wildlife safe. The overall goal is to get it so there’s a two-minute beach clean board at every beach in the country, a litter-picking group in every village or town, which has a beach and a penalty sign for tourists littering.”

To find out more about Wayne’s incredible journey and to follow his progress, search @WayneKoda on Twitter or find him on Facebook.