WALKING 101 miles for charity would seem like a tiring task to most of us, but a group of eight Stourbridge men are taking the endurance challenge a step further.

The bunch will this weekend walk from Llangollen in Wales to The Maverick Pub, in Amblecote, in two days, without sleeping and stopping only for the essentials on their mission for Mary Stevens Hospice

Leaving the Denbighshire town at about 9pm on Friday (June 10), the group will have until 9pm on Sunday to get back to their popular local, in order to complete their challenge.

On the route home, they will pass through 14 checkpoints, with more than 30 members of the public joining them on the Sunday at the 31.5, 15.75 and 9.5 mile checkpoints.

Organisers Mark Lewis, a 58-year-old Canals and Rivers Trust worker, and Asa Timmins, a self-employed landscaper, said they will donate all the funds raised during the walk to the Hagley Road hospice in memory of Rae Timmins, Jane Webb and Ivan Partridge.

Mark, known as ‘Taff’ to his friends, said: “With this sort of thing it’s as much a mental test as it is a physical one. When you’ve been walking for that long without sleep it’s all too easy to think about giving up.

“That’s why the training is so important, but as long as you do all the preparation then you give yourself a really good chance of getting to the end.

“We just can’t wait to get going now!”

Safety precautions and assistance on the walk are being provided by volunteers and members of the West Midlands Fire Service, with local firefighters Steve Hodgetts, David Heywood and Lee Pitt taking part in the full 101 mile walk,

Lee said: “We all have been training on and off since the date was initially agreed, whether it being 20, 30 or 50 mile walks, as well as gym work, but personally I think the main test is more so endurance, mind set and condition of individuals’ feet over the 36 to 40 hours.

“It’s going to be a major challenge walking 101 miles. We are all are looking forward it, but also a little apprehensive as we don’t know what to expect.”

A number of local organisations have also come together to ensure the group have enough food and supplies for the two days, while The Maverick will also be putting on a raffle a week after the men have finished their walk, with all the funds raised from that event also being donated to the hospice.

Dan Malin, digital media and PR specialist for Mary Stevens Hospice, said: “It’s a bit cheesy, but honestly the great thing about working at the hospice is that you find heroes everywhere you go.

“In this case, it’s in the beer garden of The Maverick, enjoying a pint with a group of mates and discussing how they can devote their weekend to doing something gruelling, daunting and incredible to help raise money for families in need.

“As well as the group doing the walk, it’s the guys who are volunteering their weekend to drive behind and look after them; it’s the people making sure they’ve all got a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea to keep them going on Sunday morning; it’s the local volunteers who are manning the checkpoints to make sure everyone gets through safely.

“This is a community, working together to make sure these amazing men have the best possible chance of getting over that finish line and it’s awe-inspiring to see so many people come together in support of the hospice.”

To support the walkers and donate to Mary Stevens Hospice visit www.justgiving.com/asa-timmins, or to get involved with the walk, call 01384 377 778, or email info@mshfundraising.co.uk.