Fundraiser stops off at islands on 7,000 mile trek

Chris Jones set off on the 18-month challenge on New Year's Day in 2023

A man who is trying to complete a 7,000 mile (11,265.41km) trek around the United Kingdom and Channel Islands will stop off in Guernsey during his travels on Saturday and Sunday.

Chris Jones, from Lincolnshire, set off from the Skegness Masonic Centre on the 18-month challenge on New Year's Day in 2023.

He has raised more than £40,000 for the Masonic Charitable Foundation and said it saved his life when he went through a mental health crisis.

Mr Jones has been in Jersey and Condor Ferries have said they will support him to cross the Channel Islands to continue his walk to Guernsey where he arrived on Friday.

Guernsey freemason Worshipful Brother Andrew Sparks said he would be there to help Mr Jones.

He said: "It is wonderful to host Chris in Guernsey this weekend on his incredible journey highlighting mental health and raising funds."

He added: "On Saturday we plan to show Chris the Guernsey Masonic Hall in St Martins between his continued walk around the UK coastline.

"We then wave him off on Sunday as he continues raising funds, highlighting mental health issues and his very long walk."

Mr Jones said he has visited as many Masonic centres as possible near the sea.

He has not been away for the entire journey and has returned home by train for a few visits to his family.

'Fresh air and the sea'

Mr Jones said: "I’m very open about my struggle with my mental health and this is the main focus of this challenge.

"I have suffered with poor mental health for about 10 years and the very lowest points have cost days and sometimes weeks of my life."

Mr Jones had created and run an independent school in 1999 which offered education to 13 to 16 year olds from Lincolnshire who had been excluded from mainstream education.

He said he sold the business in 2019, but said his mental health had been "the worst it had ever been".

He said now he is going to spend his time trying to learn as much he can to beat the misery caused by poor mental health,.

"Walking, fresh air and the sea all help, so a nice gentle walk around the coast is a good place to start", he said.