Meet Big Dave – he’s a barrister, he’s 6ft tall, he weighs 24st, he lives in Dunstable and he is hoping you will sponsor him for a “little stroll”.
Big Dave’s Little Stroll will take larger-than-life fundraiser Dave Redmond on a tough trek all the way from John O’Groats to Land’s End this summer.
That adds up to a marathon walk of more than 1,000 miles, to raise cash for Macmillan Cancer Support, the MS Society and Help for Heroes.
Dave, 31, a criminal barrister practising out of St Albans, is bravely making it a solo challenge, with no support team to lend a hand.
But the former Queensbury School student is sure to be cheered on by wife Lorna, 30, and daughter Niamh, 11 months.
Now he is hoping that big-hearted individuals, organisations and businesses will back his fundraising feat.
He will start out on June 30, will carry all his own kit throughout the journey and will sleep in a tent every night.
A humorous blog announcing the charity challenge explains: “The rules are simple.
“No cars, buses, boats, trains or planes.
“No donkeys or other livestock.
“No hitching a lift on a passing teenager’s handlebars or nicking the skateboard or rollerblades off the local kids!
“Only pure leg power (together with a fair amount of blood, sweat and tears we’re guessing) is going to drive him for the 1,100-or-so-mile journey and, what is more, he is aiming to achieve this in about 50 days (give or take).”
The blog goes on: “By his own admission he has become a bit squidgy round the edges in recent years, but this local man is determined to do something that makes a difference this year and thus this crazy plan was hatched!”
Cash raised will be equally divided between the charities.
Dave told the Gazette why he decided to take on the trek.
“First and foremost, I just really wanted to do something to help the charities that I’ve chosen, and I wanted it to be big enough, and enough of a challenge, for people to get behind it and support it,” he said.
He will trek along the Icknield Way and other routes in the area in the coming months to build up his stamina.
And he also aims to lose some weight to ensure he is in good shape for the challenge.
Experiences of family and friends lie behind his desire to help Macmillan Cancer Support and the MS Society.
Schoolfriends joining the Armed Forces sparked his support for Help for Heroes.
There is one other reason why Dave is setting himself the challenge.
He said: “If I’m absolutely honest, it’s also to see if I can do it – but that’s very much the least important of the reasons!”