A skin cancer patient who is preparing to take on an arduous 211 mile walk to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support opened up about his battle at a fundraising event.

Martyn Wells, who was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in March last year, has committed himself to walking the length of the Severn Way path in just 10 days, starting September 1, 2018.

The 49-year-old IT Director at Midlands law firm Wright Hassall suffered a setback in his training earlier this year when doctors found a tumour which resulted in his stomach having to be removed.

However, he spoke with passion at a fundraising event held at Leamington Cricket Club about how he wants to complete his challenge.

So far, Martyn, from Worcester, has raised £15,000 of his £25,000 target, prior to any donations from the night being collected.

He said: “I am grateful to everyone who attended to show their support.

“I remember the day I was given my cancer diagnosis and it changed everything, in that moment I didn’t know what to do.

“Straight away, a Macmillan nurse was there to help me, whether that was by discussing how my treatment would work or helping me think about how I would explain this to my children.

“The last few months have been incredibly difficult and a huge setback for me at a time when I was making good progress, but I am a stubborn and determined man, and I will walk every one of those 211 miles.”

From its source high up in the Cambrian Mountains to its mouth in the Bristol Channel, the Severn Way runs 211 miles through the English and Welsh countryside, following the river.

The fundraising evening ahead of Martyn’s walk included food for 120 friends, family and colleagues of Martyn’s, as well as live music from Warwickshire band The Peas.

It also featured an inspiring speech from Gary McKee, Macmillan’s biggest ever fundraiser, who ran 100 marathons in 100 days last year, raising more than £100,000 in the process.

Gary was inspired to start fundraising after his father was diagnosed with cancer in June 1997.

He said: “We are all here for a reason and fundraising is my reason.

“I pushed myself to raise money for Macmillan because of what they did for my father, Martyn has taken his experience and used it for something positive.

“All that matters is that we are helping other people.”

Martyn will be supported on his journey by the Wright Hassall Charitable Trust.

For more information and to donate to Martyn’s journey, visit https://www.severnway2018.com/