A SEVENTY-one year old former Royal?Marine is trekking almost 300 miles in a bid to raise money for a young boy with cancer.

Terry Bumford, from Walkhampton, set out on Monday to walk 291 miles of Cornish coastline to raise money for 'Hugs for Henry' a charity trying to raise £500,000 for three-year-old Henry Hallam who suffers with neuroblastoma — a cancer which affects the nerve cells.

Terry has been friends with Henry's grandparents, Sharon and Kevin, for many years.

He said:?'I wanted to do something for Henry so I'm planning to walk the Cornish coastline, allowing 23 days because it is going to be particularly hot.'

Terry set off from Welcome Mount and aims to finish at Royal William Yard.

A 'Hugs for Henry' team will be supporting Terry, following him in a support vehicle and he will have the company of his red Collie cross Huxley.

'Huxley might not do the whole walk,' said Terry, 'He did the last one with me a few years ago, but he's 12 now so when he looks tired we'll arrange for him to be picked up in the support truck.'

The charity has around £370,000 left to raise and Terry hopes he can raise a couple of thousand pounds to donate towards it.

He said: 'Lots of interest has been generated. I'm doing the easy bit, so hopefully I can raise a few bob.'

Terry is no stranger to long walks and negotiating tough terrain as he worked for the Dartmoor Rescue Group for 25 years, and used to train the search dogs.

'I used to go all over training dogs and one handler I trained in Wales turned out to be Henry's great grandfather.'

Anyone who would like to support Terry can do so by donating through one of the sponsorship forms placed in a number of pubs around Dartmoor or by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/henryhallamappeal">www.justgiving.com/henryhallamappeal and specify that the donation is in aid of Terry's walk.