A fundraising city councillor relying on acts of kindness as she treks 210 miles over eight days is set to drop in at the Sid Valley Food Bank on Wednesday.

Philippa Davey is heading back to her home in Plymouth from Salisbury to highlight homeless, poverty and social exclusion and to support three city charities that address these issues.

If she gets no help at all, she will be sleeping in a tent, walking alone and have just £83.82 – the equivalent of eight days’ benefits payment – to spend on food and drink.

The 50-year-old said: “In a world where homelessness, food poverty, social exclusion and conflict are on the rise, how far would you go to prove that the vast majority of people are intrinsically kind?”

She said when she joined a marathon in Palestine and asked to use someone’s toilet or for some water, she was always greeted with a smile and an invitation to join them – meaning the challenge took many hours.

Philippa, who signed off Plymouth’s Syrian refugee programme, left Salisbury Foodbank on Saturday, plans to reach the Sid Valley by Wednesday, and will be back in Plymouth this Saturday. She has already been offered a bed in Sidmouth.

Social activist Philippa said: “I genuinely believe that the vast majority of people in the UK are just as compassionate and kind as the Palestinians have been, and I’m going to prove this is the case.

“I’m hoping people will join me on the walk and tell me their stories and share a hug, bring some food or drink, offer a garden or pitch for the tent, a church hall floor to sleep on or even a spare bed – but most importantly share what I am doing on social media and by word of mouth.

“I need people’s help to reach out to communities I don’t know and to people I have never met, in the hope that they will show me small acts of kindness that will enable me to have a fantastic eight days sharing it with amazing people.

“Although the Act of Kindness ultra marathon is a physical challenge, for me the aim is also a journey to spread the love, compassion and kindness to change the world.

“I’m asking people to do an act of kindness every day and post on my social media accounts and see how far we can spread the love across the world, this way anyone can be involved, anywhere in the world.

“In eight days we could spread love, compassion and kindness across the world and light up hundreds of lives, for free. What could be better than that?”

The ultramarathon is raising money for Plymouth Foodbank, Plymouth Access to Housing and Shekinah.

Follow Philippa’s challenge at twitter.com/PhilippaDavey.