A 42-day trek across the length of the UK has seen a Leigh man battle through torrential downpours, injuries, and immense inclines as he attempts to raise cash for charity.

Reece Matthew, 32, is undertaking a massive trek from Land’s End to John O’Groats in Scotland – a huge 1,105-mile challenge that will see him weave across the UK’s toughest terrain.

The challenge will take around 42 days to complete and is to raise money for Cancer Research UK and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, with Reece having been closely impacted by both diseases.

Reece is 11 days into the challenge and has already had to overcome a series of challenges.

He said: “My mum has been battling leukaemia, she is better now than she was, but it takes five years to get the all clear from cancer.

“I have had my grandad pass away from lung cancer as well, it has been horrible.

“A close friend of eight years has been living with cystic fibrosis as well, during that time I have had to see the challenging first-hand impact of the illness.

"I would want any money I raise go to helping people suffering from cancer and cystic fibrosis.”

Reece is camping every night, having already been forced to struggle through torrential rain and rely on the support of strangers to continue.

“When there are terrible days, there has been something great at the end of it,” he said.

“I have had some really testing moments, rolled my ankle badly and hobbled seven hours to a campsite, defeated.

“I met a family in a pub near the site and they kindly invited me to stay at theirs for the nights.

“Another night it was raining incredibly hard, it was a terrible night and a farmer offered me a log cabin at a massively cheap rate to keep me out of it, it was a score.”

Reece added that he is confident about the rest of the trek and believes he can keep up the pace.

“I have already hit the hardest spots I feel. As long as I can keep the pace up I will make it,” he said.

https://www.justgiving.com/team/walkinthepark