A BLIND man is walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats on his own for charity.

Dave Mulligan, aged 65, was registered as blind last year after being diagnosed with glaucoma in 2000.

The married dad of five will be walking the nearly 900 miles, from Cornwall to Scotland, on June 17 and hopes to complete the challenge in 40 days.

The 65-year-old said: “I am registered as blind but I have some pieces of vision so it is not totally ludicrous that I am doing this on my own.

“But I can’t see me having that much vision left in the near future so I wanted to do something like this as my last hurrah.”

Mr Mulligan, of Limefield Road, Smithills, has already raised £455 of his £5,000 target, which he will be donating to charity Blind Children UK.

The former St Joseph’s High School teacher said: “Dealing with my own failing sight is a challenge.

"For a child, growing up can be difficult anyway; growing up with visual impairment or multiple disabilities can be seriously difficult. Blind Children UK offer a bit of hope to families in that situation.

"The vision I have currently, I value more than ever and I appreciate what I have compared to many others.

"But I find that living with a disability does not mean an end to challenging oneself.

Mr Mulligan said he has been training for the past five months for the challenge and has been going on long distance 30 and 40 mile walks around the area.

He is planning to do a number of two day walks and sleep over, in May, in further preparation for it.

He added: “There is something primeval about long distance journeys on foot.

"Being closer to nature, being resourceful and relying on the spirit within us when the going gets tough.

"900 miles in 40 days carrying a 10kg pack there are definitely going to be times when it gets tough, but I am looking forward to it."

On his journey Mr Mulligan said he is planning to pass through St Joseph's Primary School where he has been teaching children about his challenge and what it is like to be blind.

He said he would also like to call in to Sharples Primary School which has a visually impaired unit.

To sponsor Mr Mulligan go to: https://www.justgiving.com/MulligansLongWalk