Northumberland man hopes there will be no Halloween horrors on charity walk through the night

A Northumberland man is aiming to complete a 62-mile coastal walk in just 24 hours – and in partial darkness.
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Jon Monks, from Rothbury, is taking on the Northumberland Coastal Walk Challenge from Berwick to Cresswell.

He hopes to raise £2,000 for Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team and HospiceCare North Northumberland.

So far, £855 has been pledged.

Jon Monks.Jon Monks.
Jon Monks.
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Jon, managing director of Shepherd Walks, said: “I was originally hoping to do this challenge earlier in the year, but with all the lockdown restrictions it just kept being put on hold."

He is taking on the challenge on Saturday, October 31 so hopes it will not turn into a Halloween horror.

Although he has previously completed the 26-mile Northumberland Coastal Challenge Walk and several other challenges before, he has never walked this distance and admits it will be a really big personal challenge.

Daylight hours will also be at a premium as the clocks go back on October 25.

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“I have really put lots into the training with my main concentration of this being practicing walking long distances in the dark with just a head torch guiding the way,” he said.

"It’s been really funny, I have been starting my training walks late afternoons, when most people are heading home but I have been doing this so I walk the majority of my walk in the darkness, aiming to finish each of my walks around midnight each time.”

Supporters will be able to track him live, as he will be carrying a GPS tracker for the duration of the challenge.

Emma Arthur, HospiceCare North Northumberland community and events fundraiser said: “Jon is a valued business supporter and we are delighted that he has decided to support HospiceCare in this way.

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"During the walk Jon will be doing live Facebook posts on his progress as well as people being able to track him live online – so if you see him on the day perhaps give him a wave and a cheer.”

He will set out from Berwick at 9.30am and is scheduled to arrive in Cresswell on Sunday morning.

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