Doctor’s gruelling 800 mile walk for charity

Dr Andy Leach, 64, is a consultant anaesthetist, recently retired from the Conquest Hospital, Hastings, whose mother died following a 15-year struggle with Alzheimer’s, a disease which affects at least 600,000 people in the UK.

Dr Leach said: “I’ve always felt that, personally, I have not done enough to support The Alzheimer’s Society.

“I have now devised this walk in order to put that right.”

Andy starts his Watershed Walk on September 18 and aims to finish towards the end of November, after a gruelling 800 miles or more.

The walk starts at a little place called Kirtomy, a few miles west of Dunnet Head, the most Northern point in Scotland, and finishes when Andy reaches Poole in Dorset, an estimated 8-10 weeks later.

The route is unique because it is based on the line from north to south, equidistant from both east and west seaboards.

The topography of the walk is initially across wild Scottish terrain without defined paths or roads, providing an enormous challenge.

Much of the route further south is on small country roads, though paths are used wherever possible.

Where sticking to the actual line involves physical danger, or will significantly slow his southwards progress, Dr Leach will be flexible, allowing him to choose the most practical route between two points, but not to skip any of the points by more than two or three miles maximum.

The walk will be continuous and Dr Leach aims to camp two thirds of the nights and carry all his equipment, food and water on his back.

Dr Leach hopes to raise thousands of pounds for the Alzheimer’s Society.

To sponsor him, visit www.justgiving.com/the-watershed-walk or to follow Dr Leach’s progress, visit his blog - www.watershedwalk.wordpress.com