A HAMPSHIRE charity worker has conquered the 630 mile South West Coast Path while raising more than £7,250 for Tools for Self Reliance.

After seven weeks and two days of walking, Stuart Bailey crossed the finish line at Shell Bay in Dorset having walked the distance from Southampton to Innsbruck in Austria.

He battled a mixture of storms and sunshine over the past 50 days, all in a great cause, the Netley Marsh based charity he works for.

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Tools for Self Reliance has, for over 40 years, worked to support people to learn skills they can use to find work and earn an income. Working with local partners in five African countries, the charity raises funds to support projects which deliver training and provides tools and equipment.

Stuart, who has worked as Workshop and Site Manager for the charity for four years, said: “This has been the longest walk of my life, and certainly the hardest challenge I’ve ever faced… excluding becoming a father of course.

"Alongside my family, I am delighted to have the support of the Tools for Self Reliance team, our amazing volunteers and the public.”

Daily Echo:

Stuart set off on his journey from Minehead and continued along the coastline of North Devon and Cornwall, back to South Devon, before reaching the finish line in Dorset.

He tried to complete 15 miles per day while carrying all his camping gear on his back.

Sarah Ingleby, Tools for Self Reliance, CEO, was cheering Stuart on. She said: “This is an amazing challenge for Stuart to take on and we could not be prouder of him.

"There were certainly ups and downs along the way, but the support he has had from the public spurred him to get to the finish line.

"It is incredible that his fundraising will cover our next shipment to Uganda, enabling even more people to change their lives.”

Find out more about the charity at tfsr.org

 

 

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