AN INTREPID walker from St John's, Worcester, won't be taking on his most ambitious challenge alone.

Mark Grooms, of Blakefield Road, will be joined by Ken Simpson of Hylton Road, in his bid to raise around £3,000 by walking approximately 115 miles from Worcester to London in aid of Scope 1st Key Worcestershire.

The charity, based in Lowesmoor, Worcester, provides a range of community-based living options for people with cerebral palsy and association disabilities in the city.

"I'm doing this mainly for the charity - it's a good charity - and for personal goals," said 54-year-old Mr Simpson, a self-employed sub-contractor who ran the London Marathon in 1994 and cycled from Land's End to John o' Groats in 1999.

Mr Grooms said it would be good to have Mr Simpson along with him because he'll have someone to talk to and they can encourage each other.

The pair have already tackled one 10-mile walk together and tomorrow, they plan to trek from Kidderminster to Worcester, a distance of around 16 miles. They aim to walk around 25 miles per day during the challenge.

"The training is going well so far," said Mr Grooms, aged 36.

"There hasn't been any great problems probably because my fitness is better this year."

The pair will start from St Peter's on Saturday, August 27, and aim to arrive at Scope's head office in Islington, north London, on Wednesday, August 31.

This will be Mr Grooms' sixth fund-raising event. Since 1998, he has raised more that £4,000 for the charity. So far around £1,400 of pledges has been secured.

If anyone would like to sponsor the pair or volunteer to be a back-up driver during the walk they should call Mr Grooms on 07791541042 or Sonya Simpson at Scope on 01905 611147.