A long walk down to Cape Town for charity man Liam

Liam Garcia, 27, from Meersbrook in Sheffield, has worked for the last year as a volunteer for the charity he founded in 2012, the Long Well Walk.

He plans to trek through France and Italy and then cross to Africa, calling at several projects his charity supports, including clean water schemes in Uganda and Kenya.

The walk will take up to 18 months and through 15 countries.

Yesterday he was getting in some training before the walk begins from Sheffield’s Peace Gardens on Saturday, March 22.

He said: “Globally, diseases from dirty water kills more people than all forms of violence.

“With this in mind I came up with a simple if not crazy idea to walk from my hometown of Sheffield to Cape Town.

“On the way I will raise awareness of the lack of safe and clean water in many of the countries along the way and to raise money to provide sustainable sources for water.”

He had been hoping to walk every step but this is now looking unlikely, he admitted last night.

“If I succeed in walking every step of the way it will be the fastest person to walk London to Cape Town. However this is currently looking unlikely as I may have to cycle through Sudan due to security.

“For the most part I will be unaided but in some high risk areas I will be supported by a vehicle, for short periods.”

His walk has been backed by Sheffield politicians David Blunkett and Nick Clegg.

Info: www.thelongwellwalk.org