A team of current and former Ceredigion County Council staff will take on a 100km walking challenge to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Around eight to 10 workers and former workers from the council’s Glanyrafon depot will take part in the Ceredigion Cancer Walk, which will take place over two days on Friday and Saturday, 26 and 27 July.

Martin Dickinson, who organised the event, said the event was to help the Stand Up To Cancer appeal with the money raised being donated to Cancer Research UK.

The walk will see the fundraising team visit Capel Bangor, Cwm Rheidol, Aberffrwd, Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, Trisant, Devil’s Bridge, Ponterwyd, Penrhyncoch, Llandre, Dolybont, Borth, Ynyslas, Llancynfelyn, Taliesin, Talybont, Bow Street and Aberystwyth, with local businesses agreeing to sponsor different stages of the fundraiser.

Martin said the idea for the fundraiser came after he completed the Couch to 5k Challenge.

He said: “This is really just a silly idea of mine that’s got way out of hand.

“Just before Christmas last year, in an attempt to improve my physical and more importantly mental health, I completed the Couch to 5k Challenge and was looking for a bigger and tougher goal to focus my mind on so I decided on a charity walk.

“Initially it was something that I had planned to do alone once I had built up my fitness to the appropriate level, but I made the mistake of discussing the idea with a few friends and colleagues from the office and a couple of them expressed an interest in joining me.

“Now we have a group of eight to 10 who will be attempting the whole 100km. I say attempting because despite having lost a little bit of weight and done some preparatory walks at weekends, I am certainly no athlete and not the kind of guy you would normally see taking part in such events, although I am hoping that my companions will help me through on the day.”

Anyone who would like to donate can do so at https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/martins-giving-page-176

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