Matthew Farley pulls on his walking boots in aid of charity to walk along the Jurassic Coast.

A groundworker from Ottery has raised £1,000 for charity by running and walking 116 miles along the Jurassic Coast.

Matthew Farley, 36, says he wanted to fundraise for Cancer Research due to the deaths of family members – including his grandfather – from cancer.

He recently completed the entire Jurassic Coast path – from Old Harry Rocks, near Swanage, Dorset to Orcombe Point, Exmouth – carrying just camping equipment.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he said. “I don’t want to be doing that again!”

Matthew was also inspired to complete the path by challenging himself.

“I used to do Sidmouth to Exmouth, which is 14 miles, in two hours. I wanted to think of something that was a bigger challenge. So I thought I’m going to do the whole of the Jurassic Coast.”

Matthew started at 7.30am on Friday, October 6 and finished at 7.40pm on Sunday, October 8.

“I hammered it!” he said. “Lulworth Cove was the most intense. Loads of steps, uphill, downhill, quite rapidly. It was a constant banging on your knees and ankles. My feet and knees are bruised, so I’ve suffered a bit.

“The second day was definitely the hardest. I had had enough when I got into Lyme Regis.

“Luckily a friend turned up and gave me a massage on my calves, we had a big breakfast, loads of painkillers, and I was ready to go again.”

As he neared Exmouth, he didn’t think he was going to make it.

“There were two signposts going across the Devon Cliffs, saying ‘Exmouth 3 miles’. They’re half a mile apart!

“I didn’t think it was going to end, it was constant on and on and on, and when I finally got to Orcombe Point, I had to sit down.”

Matthew is delighted to have achieved his goal.

“The best bits were the sunrises in the morning and the moon going down. It was beautiful and I felt privileged to be able to see that.”

Although Matthew has reached his target of £1,000, he’d like to raise more. To donate, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/matthew-farley2018?utm_source=Facebook