End of man's 3,600 mile charity walk in sight

Dickie Mackness has spent nearly two years walking around the UK

A man is nearing the final 100 miles (161km) of a 3,600 mile (5,794km) walk around the UK after nearly two years.

Dickie Mackness, 63, from Lower Swell in Gloucestershire, is raising money for the Evie Dove Foundation - a charity set up in memory of 13-year-old Evie Dove, who died of a brain tumour in 2022.

He is encouraging people to join him for the final 16-mile (26km) section on the Kent coast on 6 September.

"I'm so close to the finish line now, but I need your support for these final miles," he said.

Mr Mackness started out on his epic journey in September 2023, intending to take a year, but he suffered several setbacks including a concussion, an achilles tendon injury, becoming marooned on the Isle of Skye during a storm and months of freezing wind and rain.

He joked: "I just said, 'I'm going to complete this, even if it's on my mother-in-law's mobility scooter."

So far, Mr Mackness has raised more than £14,000, with about 25% of donations coming from people he has met while walking.

His final steps of the challenge will be during The Big Coastal Walk, hosted by the Evie Dove foundation, which will take him from Hythe in Kent to Folkstone and back again on the same day.

Mr Mackness said he hoped people from the local community would join him.

"Whether it's a donation, joining me on the walk, or cheering on from the side lines, every bit propels me forward," he said.

"I've had points when I've been walking in minus 10 and thinking, 'what am I doing?', but I just see the picture of Evie and I think, 'just get on with it mate'.

"I feel really honoured and really privileged to have done this."