COURAGEOUS Mark Jones is gearing up for a 1,200-mile fundraising hike, to help children in a Brazilian village that he says changed his life.

The 40-year-old, from Fordhouse Road, will take on a mammoth walk from Land's End to John O'Groats in a bid to raise money for a slum project in the village of Vila Dos Pescadores.

Having visited the project, which is run by friends Richard and Sarah Oliver - formerly of the Redditch Salvation Army, Mark became so determined to take on the challenge that he gave up his job as a vacuum cleaner engineer to train.

He has been dividing his training time between the Malvern Hills and the gym at David Lloyd Leisure.

The route will incorporate many well-known long-distance footpaths, including the whole of the Pennine, West Highland and Great Glen Ways, which is why it will be longer than the normal Land's End to John O'Groats trip.

He is due to start the challenge on May 4 and is aiming to finish on July 25, taking in 15 miles per day.

"I had already decided I wanted to do the walk before I visited Vila, but going there spurred me on to do it even more," he said.

"It was life changing. We walked down the main street of the favella (slum) and it was incredible seeing thousands of children on the streets.

"I've experienced challenges like this before, but this will be a lot more difficult," he said.

For more information on Mark's walk or to sponsor him, visit www.end2endwalk.com