Sussex man walks the coast of Britain (From The Argus)

Sussex man walks the coast of Britain

8:30am Tuesday 15th January 2013 in News

An adventurer from Sussex is aiming to fulfil a childhood ambition by walking the entire 7,000 miles of British coastline to raise money for charity.

Tom Brabham will set off on his epic challenge from Eastbourne Pier on February 5, a week after his 22nd birthday.

The former Hailsham Community College pupil aims to complete the trek in 10 months, arriving back home in time for Christmas.

Mr Brabham has been inspired by a book called Turn Right at Land’s End by John Merrill – the first man to successfully achieve the feat in 1978.

He said: “I’ve wanted to do this since I left school but unfortunately I felt I was too young and lifestyle choices got in the way.

“Travelling was put about as far back on the back burner as it can get.

“I believe this country is a beautiful place and I want to explore the land I’m from before travelling abroad.

“If anything the weather will be just as if not more diverse and the coastline and countryside here is incredible.”

Mr Brabham, from Hailsham, is a chef at The Old Oak Inn at Arlington, but will soon be swapping his whites for a pair of walking boots, map, compass and tent.

Air ambulance

All money raised will go to the Sussex Air Ambulance.

It costs £5million a year to keep the charity’s helicopters flying during daylight hours, but this figure will rise to £6million when a 24-hour service is launched later this year.

Mr Brabham’s journey will take him clockwise along the South Coast to Land’s End, Wales, north west England, Anglesey, Lancashire and Cumbria.

In the summer he will then cross the Scottish border into the Highlands, back into England and south towards London before following the Kent coastline to Eastbourne.

To sponsor him and find out more go to www.shoelace-express.co.uk, www.facebook.com /shoelaceexpress, or @shoelacexpress on Twitter.

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