A gym owner has raised more than £10,000 for two animal charities by completing an epic 479 mile walk.
Symon Hughes who owns the Fitness Bank in Oswaldtwistle took on the gruelling trek from Manchester to Paris and completed the walk in just under three weeks.
The 33-year-old, who also owns the Girls on Top gym, raised the funds for Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Edenfield, and Pennine Animal Welfare, but the walk did not come without its issues.
On day 10, Mr Hughes said he felt like he’d damaged his left fibula after his knee gave way close to London, and by the end of the challenge, his feet were blistered, cracked, peeling and looked horribly infected.
Mr Hughes, who ran on a treadmill for 24 hours and then completed a 24 hour press up challenge for charity a couple of years ago, documented every step on his Instagram page, and said the challenge was the toughest he’s ever completed in his life.
He said: “From all the climbs, the 24 hour runs, the 24 hour press up, it was by far the most difficult.
“I run marathons and I'd sooner run a marathon every day than walk.
“I had over 30 blisters on my feet from day two which I put on my Facebook live, and someone from Instagram booked me a podiatrist who helped with my feet.
“I've also fractured my fibula, which I did around day 10.
“To be honest when I got to France it was a relief, but I had a bit of a low couple days in France, which I am prouder of getting past than reaching the tower.
“The last day I walked 43 miles, and altogether it was 479 miles. I finished at the top of the tower on March 10, but I hated it, I just wanted to get to my hotel.
“Luckily my feet are fine and I’m back at work and back training my upper body.”
Mr Hughes said his fibula is still not great and he’s still in pain, but despite feeling a sense of accomplishment, he felt a little anti-climactic with his achievement.
He added: “It affected me more mentally than physically, and now it’s almost like...what's next?
“I feel like I've pushed my body as far as I can the past few years and how can I really top it?”
Mr Hughes raised more than £6,000 for Bleakholt and more than £4,000 for Pennine Animal Welfare.
To donate, visit GoFundMe.com
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