A HALESOWEN man took on a solo 'yamyamathon' around the Black Country to raise over £2,000 for Mary Stevens Hospice.

Carl Chappell, aged 40, embarked on a 26.2 mile walk on August 3, taking in the towns of the Black Country over a course that took him seven and a half hours to complete.

Starting in Halesowen, he ventured to Wolverhampton via Blackheath and Dudley before finishing the journey at Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge.

It was a mammoth feat for the 40-year-old who has never taken on anything like this before.

He was cheered on all the way by his two sons Louis, aged three, and five-year-old Harvey.

Explaining his motivation behind the challenge, Carl said: "It was following a health check at 40 where I found out I had high blood pressure. I started walking and thought I would raise money while trying to change my lifestyle."

To prepare for the challenge, Carl took on four months of solo training where he clocked up 750 miles by pounding the paths of the Black Country, while also improving his health.

It was an easy choice for Carl to raise money for the Stourbridge hospice as staff there provided 'exceptional care' to a loved one of Carl's who spent their final days at the Hagley Road centre.

The experience made Carl determined to give something back.

Carl added: "The walk was going quite well, and then I hit the hills around Russells Hall. The last five miles were quite a challenge.

"The support we have had has been amazing, from friends and people at the hospice. The hospice is very personal for a lot of people."

Carl is still accepting donations for Mary Stevens Hospice, which can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/2019yamyamathon.