A DETERMINED hospital worker from Swindon aims to kayak solo across Britain to help support youngsters with terminal health conditions and their families.

Jonathan Tolhurst, 31, plans to paddle about 1,400km from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise money for the charity Helen and Douglas House.

During the adventure, Jonathan will travel along some of the most treacherous waterways and bodies of water in the UK, including the Atlantic Ocean, the River Severn and the Irish Sea.

“It is a really original idea because most people travel from Land’s End to John O’Groats by walking or cycling,” said Jonathan, of Old Town.

“I wanted to do the trip as a challenge for myself but I thought that if I am are going to put a lot of effort into something, I might as well raise some money for a good cause as well.

“The trip is obviously not without its considerable risks and challenges which I fully understand and accept.

“I take safety seriously but at the end of the day I live with a philosophy that I would rather live my own life than watching somebody else living theirs.”

Jonathan, an IT technician for the pharmacy at Swindon’s Great Western Hospital, is no stranger to long-distance kayaking, having paddled around Australia’s east coast in 2004 He started training for this summer’s trip in January by working out more regularly at the gym and also going running and cycling.

Jonathan plans to set off from Sennen Cove at Land’s End in a special sea kayak on June 26 and hopes to reach his destination within six weeks, camping at the water’s edge and buying supplies wherever he can.

Jonathan, who will be updating his progress daily on a blog, said the journey would be tough, especially the first few days, but was confident he would get used to the continuous paddling.

He said: “I will be tackling groundswell from the mighty Atlantic Ocean, the Bristol Channel – which has one of the largest tidal ranges in the world – the notoriously choppy Irish sea and not forgetting our wonderful unpredictable and changeable weather.

"I’m looking forward to seeing some basking sharks, seals, dolphin and perhaps the Loch Ness monster!”

Jonathan has so far raised about £500 in sponsorship from friends and family but hopes to see that rise to more than £1,000.Sponsor him, or read his blog, at www.jonathantolhurst.com