A PRINCETOWN man who has raised more than £100,000 from a charity event he started 20 years ago is to receive the MBE.

A lifelong love of walking led Stephen Parker to organise the first Dartmoor Challenge in 1991 with just a handful of friends — now the event attracts up to 90 participants, from beginners to more experienced trekkers.

Each year the ten and 15 mile routes take in different parts of Dartmoor and even in last year's recession, more than £7,000 was raised through sponsorship.

Many charities have been helped over the years, with the Derriford Children's Cancer Services benefiting for the past five years.

Mr Parker said it was an understatement to say he was surprised at being in the New Year's Honours list.

'I was definitely lost for words,' he said.

'It is just fantastic — an honour and a privilege. I am over the moon.

'I have a very good team of people who help me and I would like to thank everyone over the years who has been involved particularly my family, Lynn Compton, Neil Compton, Jo Young and Cliff Palmer.'

Mr Parker said the great thing about the Dartmoor Challenge was that it was over two days, with an overnight stay in Princetown, and anyone could do it.

'People have a go who have never really done any walking before,' he said.

'They enjoy it so much that they say they will carry on and there is a great satisfaction in that for me.

'I love being involved in this — it is great fun and a good thing to do especially in this day and age when we are all told to go out and get fitter.'

The 54-year-old retired train driver said he would keep organising the Dartmoor Challenge, which also doubles as a history lesson of the moor, as long as people were interested.

'This year we are having a 20th anniversary walk in June which is exactly the same route and the same time as the first event in 1991,' he said.