I've always enjoyed walking in the countryside but, for some reason, have decided, at the age of 77, to try walking much further than I have ever done before in one day. I'm attempting the Walk Tonbridge Marathon 2024 which not only invites walkers to challenge themselves, but is also raising money for the Sustain food bank, a Tonbridge-based charity, tackling food poverty in the local area. My family think I would be more sensible to relax at home and just make a donation!

Two hundred people will be taking part in the event and I'll be walking as a team with seven friends who will all be supporting each other as we try to get across the finishing line. The route follows 26.2 challenging miles from Tonbridge Baptist Church to Shipbourne, Plaxtol, Dunks Green, and back to Shipbourne. The walk then continues to Dene Park, Hadlow, Golden Green and Tudeley Hale before returning to Tonbridge town centre along the River Medway. The route then heads out to Hildenborough via a circuit of Barden Lake before returning to Tonbridge and finishing at the Old Fire Station.

All of the money raised will be donated to Sustain, which is run by Tonbridge Baptist Church and provides emergency food supplies to around 100 local families every week. It costs over £1,500 per week to run and is entirely reliant on donations. Last year, Sustain gave out almost 3,000 food parcels which were distributed to people who were referred by front line care agencies.