A PAIR of neighbours from Devizes have completed a massive endurance walk in aid of charity.

Will Ruscoe, 36, and Peter Nelson, 53, conquered the 106km journey around the perimeter of the Isle of Wight to raise money for Amnesty International and Julia’s House.

Mr Ruscoe, assistant head of John Bentley School in Calne, said: “We finished the walk in 26 hours, we are very pleased with the time. Without the rest stops we would’ve done it in 24 hours. It was one of the toughest things I have ever done, it took a lot of mental strength and about keeping focused on the challenge. When we got to the finish we looked back and wondered how we had managed to do it.

“There were people passed out at stops, at the end I had to have a doctor look at my feet. I have done a marathon before but I have never done anything like that. So far I have raised £1,400 for Amnesty International and my donations page is still up and running."

The duo, who set off for the Isle of Wight on Friday, finished the 63-mile challenge after a night of non-stop walking and returned to their homes in Devizes on Monday (May 2) morning.

Mr Nelson, of Devizes, said: “I happened upon the challenge about six months ago and thought that Will was the right sort of person to do it with. We are friends and neighbours and this challenge isn’t the sort of thing you would want to do on your own.

“It was a huge amount of fun, it was one of those really mentally and physically demanding things. The organisation of the event was fantastic, they did a fantastic job. What also helps is we were really lucky with the weather too.”

“I have done the Devizes to Westminster race a few times and I have also been in the Guinness Book of World Records before as part of the longest game of croquet, so I am used to these sort of mad-cap things.”

Mr Ruscoe’s just giving page can be found at www.justgiving.com/Will-Ruscoe1, and Mr Nelson’s donations page can be found at www.justgiving.com/Peter-Nelson4.