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Gary Underdown, from Sittingbourne, arranges 32-mile walk around Sheppey for Help for Heroes

A group of friends are to circumnavigate the Island on foot in a blistering charity challenge.

The idea for the 32-mile expedition was put forward by Gary Underdown as his annual fundraiser for Help for Heroes.

He managed to persuade three pals to join him on the trek – Darren Stock, Chris Hunt and Leigh French.

Gary, left, is to walk the 32-miles around Sheppey with friends to raise money for Help for Heroes
Gary, left, is to walk the 32-miles around Sheppey with friends to raise money for Help for Heroes

The four former Minster College pupils will set off on Sunday, August 30 from the Playa in Minster, where their journey will also end.

It will be the second time Gary, 27, from Watling Place, Sittingbourne, has taken part in a round-the-Island-walk.

The first occasion was nine years ago to raise money for St John Ambulance. Gary, a duty bar manager at Judd’s Folly Hotel in Faversham, said it’s worth making the trip for pleasure alone.

He said: “It’s the sort of challenge people want to do but never seem to get round to doing. It gives you a real sense of achievement and I saw parts of Sheppey I didn’t know existed. I’d never been to Elmley, for example.”

Gary said he wanted the soldier’s charity to benefit from his efforts.

It will be the second time the 27-year-old has done the island walk
It will be the second time the 27-year-old has done the island walk

He said: “Those guys are on the firing line so we can live and do what we do each day. They don’t always get the rewards they should.”

Gary said he hoped the walk would take his fundraising total to £2,000 over the course of nearly three years.

In 2014, he collected £500 through a Kiss-themed day he organised at Morrisons in Sittingbourne. He set up a stand at the store’s entrance while wearing fright make-up and thigh-high platform boots reminiscent of the band’s lead singer Gene Simmons.

To sponsor Gary’s walk search justgivingtheladsislandwalk via Facebook.

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