A Salvation Army member making great strides in his charity bid to visit more than 800 branches is due to arrive in Dartford and Gravesend this week.

Pensioner Andy Peddle is trekking across the UK and Ireland to raise £100,000 for The Salvation Army’s work with homeless people and victims of human trafficking.

He set off on his epic journey totalling 7,900 miles - or an estimated 15million steps - one year ago from the Shetland Isles and by the time he finishes in November would have walked to the majority of Salvation Army corps, Lifehouses and charity shops, as well as every league football club in the UK.

Andy dons a top hat for each visit and gives a talk about the issues he is raising awareness and much-needed funds for.

He then rounds off each stop with a fitting rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.

Andy, who was inspired to take on the challenge by the army’s saying ‘Heart to God, hand to man’, is due to reach the Dartford corps in Hythe Street at 9am on Thursday and then greet Gravesend members at their centre in The Grove at 12.30pm.

He is keen to see people support him by doing their own ‘mini’ sponsored walks of one mile or more, and for them to put pictures of the places they visit on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

“I want people over the age of 65 to realise that life does go on and that you can volunteer and become involved,” he explained. “I would love to see as many people as possible support us in this project.”

Andy, who lives in High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, has had his high and low points during his year-long journey.

He celebrated his 70th birthday en route, but also fell victim to thieves who broke into his motorhome support vehicle during a stop in Sunderland.

“We lost a couple of cameras with our first five months’ pictures on them,” he said. “These events either knock you down or make you stronger. It has made me more determined than ever to finish what I’ve started – to raise £100,000 to help The Salvation Army make a difference in the lives of others.”

Dartford Salvation Army corps officer (church leader) Lieutenant Zoe Smith said: “The Salvation Army hopes that, as a culture, we will start viewing people who are ‘homeless’ as people who have a contribution to make in our society.

“It is fantastic that Andy is taking on this personal pilgrimage to help those truly in need.”

Follow Andy’s progress at http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/walk