A HAMPSHIRE man is set to complete a "very important" 46-mile walk in aid of the Winchester Hospice Appeal.

Richard Brett, 67, will take the sponsored trip from Weymouth to Wareham on May 31, and hopes to raise at least £10,000 for the charity – after achieving his original target of £3,000 in just three days.

His 63-year-old wife Viv has ovarian cancer, and has been receiving regular chemotherapy at the Nick Jonas Ward of the Royal Hampshire County Hospital since 2015.

The couple, both retired teachers, have lived in Quarry Road, Winchester for 25 years, and their three children went to King's School and Peter Symonds College.

Richard said: "Together we have been managing the condition, and currently we have some weeks of remission in which we can get out and do things like fund-raising projects for the Winchester Hospice.

"It feels so important to be investing our energies in this at such times, as well as spending time with our family and going on holidays when we can."

He added: "I've been minded to do things in aid of the hospice for some time – it's personal, and a very relevant project.

"We don't know what the future holds and lots of people are going to need the hospice; it could be any one of us. And it's not just the ten beds, it's the home care service that will be available which is essential. "The money raise from this walk, just like all other fundraising efforts, is very important."

Richard has already raised more than £8,500 on his online JustGiving page.

"The support has been inspiring, there has just been so much of it. I thought I'd raise £3,000 in total, but got there after three days. I left it and left it and all of a sudden I was at £7,000, so thought I'd push my target higher," said Richard.

He continued: "I'm very excited by the challenge. I've ran four marathons in the last 20 years. But this is going to be very tough walking."

Richard will spread the journey across two days, starting from Weymouth and taking the southwest coast path via Swanage and Ballard Point, and staying in a bed and breakfast along the way.

Donations can be made at: www.justgiving.com/Richard-Brett5.