Lecturer, 71, walking 450 miles and tackling 10 peaks
Alan ChapeA retired lecturer is tackling a 450 mile (724km) walking trip and planning to climb the 10 tallest peaks in the Lake District to raise money for a children's charity.
Alan Chape, 71, who taught at Stockton Riverside College, sets himself extreme walking challenges every year to raise money for good causes and this year he is supporting the Glowstick Project in Middlesbrough.
After just over a week on the Coast to Coast path he is covering an average of 15 miles (about 24km) a day before he unpacks his one man tent for the night.
Chape said he was tackling the 10 highest peaks because the Glowsticks Project was all about helping neurodivergent children "reach the highest level they can".
"I read about Glowsticks after my daughter did a run for them and I thought 'what a lovely charity,'" he said.
"They were only registered in September last year and I thought what they do sounds really worthwhile."
Alan ChapeThe 71-year-old carries all of his supplies on his own and said he enjoyed talking to people he passed on the path and telling them about the Glowsticks Project.
The project aims to help neurodivergent children and young people to thrive, to build friendships and to develop confidence through a variety of supported activities.
Founder of the Glowsticks Project, Rebecca Ibbotson, said: "What Alan is doing is just incredible, walking coast to coast over five weeks is such a huge mental and physical challenge.
"I think sometimes people don't realise how much something like this matters to a small charity like ours, so to see someone go to these lengths for us is genuinely moving."
Ibbotson said the charity team would be cheering him on "every single step of the way".
The order he is tackling the peaks:
Catstycam (890m / 2,920ft)
Helvellyn (950m / 3,117ft)
Nethermost Pike (891m / 2,923ft)
Bowfell (902m / 2,959ft)
Great End (910m / 2,986ft)
Scafell (964m / 3,163ft)
Scafell Pike (978m / 3,209ft)
Pillar (892m / 2,926ft)
Great Gable (899m / 2,949ft)
Skiddaw (931m / 3,054ft)
Once Chape has walked the tallest peaks in the Lake District he plans to head back home via the Teesdale Way and pop in on the Glowsticks Project before the final stretch home.
Vicky Rushin-Chape, Chape's wife, said her husband spent hours planning his long walks to raise money for charities.
"He is incredibly generous, resilient and stubborn and at 71-years-old amazes friends and family by taking on tremendous feats many people find difficult to contemplate," she said.
"His previous challenges have included the Camino De Santiago, Lands End to John O'Groats, 2,000 miles around the UK, the Portuguese Camino, many crossings of the Coast to Coast and more."
