I hadn’t slept too well for about a week due to the anticipation and excitement at the challenge ahead, my 50 mile walk in one day.

On 11 June 2005 and after 5 months training, I had an enforced breakfast and left my home at 3:20am. Conditions were perfect. There was no wind or rain and there was sufficient light to see without a torch.

The challenge was being covered in the Great Outdoors Magazine by John Manning, a former deputy editor of the Todmorden News.

We set off up Erringden Bank, across London Road (just below Stoodley Pike) and stopped at The Top Brink at 5:10am. There was little wind which meant the midges found us fairly quickly, so we only had time to eat a banana. The next time we were to see The Top Brink would be at the journeys end.

We continued to Bottomley in Walsden, past Summit and over to Watergrove Reservoir (where we were surprised to see Rochdale and on to Manchester in a huge plain) before descending to Bradley near Whitworth for a “refueling” stop at around 9:20am.

We were joined at the 17 mile mark by Mick Stott before climbing through some delightful cottages and barn conversions and onto open moorland at Rooley Moor where we encountered “Top Of The Leach”, the highest point of the walk at 475 metres. Conditions were still perfect, cloudy, no wind, t-shirt weather, although long distance visibility wasn’t too good.

Next it was over to Lumb (the 27 mile mark) where we met up with another two walkers, Kate Wynn and one of my friends, Andy. We stopped for a lunch break at the top of Deerplay where visibility had improved. Pendle Hill was prominent although we could also see Penyghent and Ingleborough in the distance.

From here we dropped down to The Ram Inn at Holme Chapel where we came across the memorial stone to Mary Towneley, the creator of this bridleway (The Mary Towneley Loop) which is enjoyed by many cyclist, walkers and horse riders. From here we conitnued up to the windmills at Long Causeway, down to Hurstwood and over the moor towards Widdop.

This is usually one of my favourite places but not today. I had a bad patch for about 6 miles - I had fatigue, felt off colour and my morale dipped. Kate was chivvying me along but I struggled for quite a while and had to have an enforced rest. Kate did a great job of keeping me going and I knew that if I got to Widdop Reservoir I could break the remaining miles down into smaller chunks and get home.

Then, in the distance and somewhat unexpectedly, I saw Stoodley Pike. It seemed a huge distance away. The mental demons kicked in and my suppressed emotions (as to why I was doing the walk) came into the equation. My salvation came as Kate and I reached the wall at Widdop Reservoir. I could hear a car horn tooting and recognised my friends Mike and Janet Rooney. It was an unplanned rendezvous and Mike picked up my walking pace and rucksack. He even opened gates for me but I still felt flat in spirits and well being.

It was now around 6pm and I phoned my wife June for an ETA to meet up with the Mayor and Mayoress of Todmorden and the ladies from the Todmorden Cancer Research UK Fundraising Committee. It was good to hear Junes voice. The distraction meant that I stormed up the hill to Gorple Gate where I could now see the Colden Valley and Stoodley Pike.

I broke the last 9 miles down into small distances in my head and at The New Delight I saw Les Wynn laying on the grass (our ever helpful support driver for the day) but had no time for small talk. Half a bottle of Lucozade and an emotional moment later I walked off to be alone for a while. The team followed on and 10 minutes later I was OK.

My spirits were now up as we climbed the main road below Blackshaw Head and descended towards Callis Bridge where John and I noticed Erringden again and thought about the adventures and experiences since 4am that morning.

We’d now completed the 47 mile circuit and took the canal towpath to Eastwood, Middle Stoodley (below Harvelin Park), along Lee Bottom Road to Mankinholes and down the bridleway to finish at The Top Brink.

Lost in my own thoughts of the last few months, I was almost triumphant but could I hold it together emotionally? I wanted to walk in, arms aloft, with John Manning who had been my companion for the whole day. I rounded the corner by the pub and a cheer went up with applause echoing all around.

I could see the Cancer Research banner, the ladies from the local group, the Mayor and Mayoress, my wife June and the boys, my Mum and Dad and many smiling faces.

It had taken 18 hours to do 51 miles, 1 mile for every year of my life. It was a great team effort and I would like to thank everyone who supported me. In total, I raised just short of £8500 for Cancer Research.