A 55-year-old woman from Kenilworth is set to complete a two-month charity walk all in aid of the RNLI, the YHA and the National Trust/South West Coast Path Association.

Rachel Hadley-Leonard will walk 630 miles in just eight weeks along the South West Coast Path, starting in Minehead and finishing in Poole.

Rachel, who has early-stage arthritis, will begin her challenge on Saturday, September 3.

She has already had over 40 different accommodations donate a night's stay for the fundraiser, and in lieu of this she has paid £25 into the charity pot per night.

"My inspiration was two fold really," Rachel told Nub News.

"First, a love of the South West Coast having walked and holidayed there for the last 20 years, (and even married in Cornwall!) and second, a desire to support three charities who both literally and indirectly, save lives all over the UK.

"The outdoors is so beneficial to our mental health, and it's free, and anything I can do to raise awareness is important."

She will also be broadcasting a podcast of her travels called 'Keeping the Sea on the Right' through Spotify and Anchor FM and will also be keeping supporters up to date through her Instagram page.

Rachel has also been training hard, although she has been hampered by slightly be injury.

She added: "I have done a lot of training, many parts of the walk are brutal, so you need to be fit to do it in one continuous go!

"I've mainly been walking four to six miles each day, swimming 1km ion alternative days, and cycling 45 minutss a day to keep fit, and then strength exercises to build muscle.

"I did get shin splints in my right leg however five weeks ago, which stopped the walking part of the training until this week! So frustrating and very painful, but hopefully I am ok now!"

Rachel has set a target of £3,000 and has already received a lot of donations through her JustGiving page.

And with the challenge just weeks away she said she had a mixture of emotions.

"So, as we speak 20 days ahead of the challenge, I'm about 70 per cent excited and 30 per cent nervous," Rachel said.

"My main concerns are; will I be lonely?...I hope not, and will my injury reoccur?...I hope not!

"But overall, just incredibly excited, keen to meet hundreds of new people I meet along the way, and also excited to see how much I can raise for the three charities!"

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