Wokingham man walks 600 miles for the British Heart Foundation and Reading's Babies in Buscot

David Fenton, 53, will be returning on Thursday (November 5) from a 30-day trial which will see him walking 600 miles across the country to raise money for the Royal Berkshire Hospital's (RBH) baby charity and The British Heart Foundation.

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On his fundraising page, which was set up before he began his challenge, David explained: "Having recently left my role as group head of marketing due to restructuring, I am taking time to reflect on what's next for my career, and I am going to put my immediate energy and time into realising a personal goal of mine – to give myself a physical and mental challenge whilst (hopefully) raising money for charity.

"And I didn't think the Proclaimers were ambitious enough at walking 500 miles so my target is 600 plus!

"I've decided this will revolve around places that are significant to me – whilst ultimately helping others.

"I am going to walk over 600 miles in around 30 days.

"My wife Anne suggested to walk to places that are important to me - and that's what I will do."

Having ventured off from his home in Wokingham last month, David then aimed to walk to Buntingford, Hertfordshire, where he spent his early school years.

His next stop was up north to Durham, where David spent three years at university.

This will be followed by going West to Salford/Swinton, where David was born and spent many happy family Christmases with his maternal grandparents.

Then it will be further south to Malvern where he lived from the age of 13 until his early 20s, and where his parents still live.

Finally, David will then walk back home to Wokingham via Reading's Royal Berkshire Hospital, where his twin sons were born in 1997.

He said: "I will be doing 616 miles in 30 days - and I'm planning to walk six out of seven days per week."

Of the money raised, 50 per cent will go to the hospital's Babies in Buscot Support (BIBS) special care, and the other half will go to the British Heart Foundation – both of which have impacted David's family.

So far, £3,500 has been raised for the charities.

BIBS raises funds to give sick and premature newborn babies at the Royal Berkshire Hospital the best possible start in life.

Donations will be used to support all of the charity's work, which focuses on four main areas of activity that together we call keeping Buscot families "SAFE" (Support, Awareness, Facilities and Equipment). The charity is run entirely by parents that have had a baby spend time on Buscot Ward.

David's fundraising page reads: "When our twin boys were born prematurely by caesarean in 1997, both Matthew and James went into special care – an anxious time of course but made easier with fantastic support from the staff at the RBH neonatal unit.

"Similarly, my niece and nephew spent their early weeks as premature babies in special care.

"Now when I look at the boys today and what they have achieved I couldn't be prouder. I would like to raise funds to help support other new parents who find themselves in this situation."

The British Heart Foundation funds more than £100million of research each year into all heart and circulatory diseases and the things that cause them.

David explained that his brother Tim has been impacted by sarcoidosis, which is quite rare and is an inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs in the body including the heart and lungs. This consequently impacts his lifestyle.

David said: "I would like to raise some funds to help research this disease to help others and hence supporting the British Heart Foundation."

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David is tracking his progress on a Facebook page, Miles, Milestones and Memories, where he keeps people updates on where he is and what he has been doing.

To view and donate to the fundraising page, click here.