A MALIGNANT melanoma patient is all set to ‘walk the walk’ after months of training for an 'epic' challenge.

Martyn Wells, who was diagnosed in March last year, has committed himself to walking the length of the Severn Way path in just 10 days, starting September 1.

From its source high up in the Cambrian Mountains to its mouth in the Bristol Channel, the Severn Way runs 211 miles through the English and Welsh countryside, following the river.

With just days to go before he sets off, Mr Wells said: “Final preparations are good, I’m tapering down the exercise in order to get the fatigue out of my muscles and give my body time to build an energy reserve for the event itself.

“I’m feeling equal amounts of excitement and trepidation as the day draws closer.

“It will soon be time to “walk the walk” as they say.”

Mr Wells, who is taking on the challenge to raise funds for Macmillan, has generated more than £21,000 towards his target, which is to raise enough cash to fund two Macmillan nurses for a year, so far.

The 49-year-old IT Director at Midlands law firm Wright Hassall has set that particular target so that several hundred other families and patients can benefit from the service of Macmillan nurses, which has been crucial to him.

Mr Wells, who lives in Worcester, has suffered severe set-backs during training for the walk, including doctors finding a tumour which resulted in his stomach having to be removed earlier this year.

Mr Wells returned to work at the end of 2017 after being diagnosed with malignant melanoma in March 2017. He will be supported on his journey by the Wright Hassall Charitable Trust.

His early training was boosted with support from TV survival show host Ed Stafford, who gave him tips on how to stay comfortable during the epic walk.

As his training continued, in spite of huge setbacks, support has grown for Mr Wells, with British boxing superstar Anthony ‘Million Dolla’ Crolla sending a personal video message wishing him luck, and a fundraising event organised in Leamington in July.

Ultimately, he wants to raise awareness of melanoma, raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and to thank all of those who have helped him so far.

Mr Wells said: “This event is now consuming my every waking moment.

“What if this happens? What if that happens?

“It’s no longer my far horizon to gaze at and wonder, way off in the distance.

“Now it is a huge looming mass that hangs over me like the Himalaya.

To follow Mr Wells progress, visit severnway2018.com