A BLIND Bridgwater man has undertaken an epic 45-mile walk to raise cash for charity.

Russell Parsons, 52, from Cothelstone Close, set off on his six-day journey along the River Parrett Trail on bank holiday Monday in aid of Somerset Sight, a charity for the sight-impaired.

He was joined by friends and supporters who helped raise funds through sponsorship, totalling £2,000 so far.

Russell, who is treasurer and trustee of Somerset Sight, said: “It was brilliant. We had some wet days and when the moors get flooded it gets interesting.

“It was quite a challenge. When you get to Bridgwater the river meanders a lot and you're walking a quarter of a mile when in fact it's more like a mile.”

Russell said the Paralympics have given even more people the confidence to get active. He added: “These Paralympians live around the corner or in the same village or town as us. If they can achieve it, any of us can if we're prepared to work hard.

“We had some visually impaired people walking with us and some were not confident in walking. Things like this give them the opportunity to put one foot in front of the other and gain that confidence.”

The walk was supported by Bridgwater taxi firm Broadway Taxis.

To donate visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RussellParsons or contact Becky Fry at Somerset Sight on 01823-366147 or becky@somersetsight.org.uk