A GROUP of walkers from Deeside have completed an epic 170-mile sponsored walk, raising a mammoth £15,000 in aid of two charities.

Mike Hodson, Pete Dodd, Ste Chesworth, Gavin Evans and Lee Stinchcombe, aka 'Shotton Walkers' took on the gruelling challenge between September 26 and October 2.

By doing so they raised a combined £15,000 for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) - a leading movement against suicide and also for the Not Forgotten Association (NFA).

The route started at Shotton in County Durham to Stockton-on-Tees. The team walked to North Allerton, Harrogate, Halifax, Bolton and Liverpool before arriving back to Shotton, North Wales.

Shotton Walkers organiser and planner Dean Stenner says: "James Guy and I had been planning this campaign for 18 months and have had to delay the event and other fundraising efforts due to Covid.

"We chose this walk as both Shotton in County Durham and Shotton North Wales share not only a name but proud industrial pasts of coal and steel.

"Our charities fit hand in hand and they were chosen specifically for their focus on mental and physical health elements and their low running costs, we knew our efforts would have a direct and positive impact on their patrons,

"The walkers had been training hard and challenging their abilities, completing the Shotton 2 Shotton walk is such an achievement for us, knowing what we raise will be going to such a great cause, makes it all worthwhile.

"Mental health is incredibly important to all of us particularly after the last 18 months. We have all felt the impact of suicide in our lives and want to try our best to stop others going through it."

The walk started the walk in County Durham at the local council hub in Shotton. Greeted by local councillors and dignitaries accompanied by Shotton Councillor Sean Bibby.

After a handover of symbolic plaques by the two councils they commenced the Seven day walk with The Shotton Colliery Brass band playing them out.

The group powered through towns, countryside over the Pennines and across the country in the most extreme weather conditions.

The entire team completed the task and arrived in Shotton Deeside on schedule escorted by the Cambria Band back to the Clwyd to celebrate the achievement.

Dean added: "The campaign would not have been the success it had been without families, public, our online and business support, The walkers would like to thank everybody involved in making their walk a success,

"Special thanks to our social media team, Caitlin and Jodie and Rich in the USA who managed our website.

"The Shotton Walkers Community have shown how generous and united they are to raise the funds and awareness for their amazing charities.

"From the penny's in the collection tins to the fantastic business sponsorships we received, Thank you is simply not enough to express our appreciation right now. All of this was made possible thanks to the continued support and generosity."

You can still sponsor the Shotton Walkers online until the end of November through www.shottonwalkers.co.uk or uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/ShottonWalkers