A SUPERMARKET worker is doing a sponsored walk with to support the fundraising efforts of a college with multiple sclerosis.

Clive Lancaster, 51, of Chester-le-Street, is walking 539 miles in a bid to raise more than £1,800 for the MS Trust.

Instead of taking time off to do one long walk he has started walking to and from his workplace, the Sainsbury’s store at the Arnison Centre, Pity Me, Durham.

He started making the five-mile journey on foot instead of the bus on June 1 and plans to continue until October 18 when a zip wire slide for the MS Trust will be held in Newcastle.

Mr Lancaster works with mother-of-two Liz Hilland, of Kimblesworth, who has MS and is raising thousands of pounds for the charity through bag packs, garden parties and zip slides.

Mr Lancaster, who calls his charity effort CLIVE 4 LIZ and MS, said: “I have been inspired by her determination and courage and set myself a challenge to raise money for her charity, hence the name of my campaign.

“I feel a lot better in myself for the walking and I have lost some weight but the weight is not the reason I am doing it.

“I wanted to do something to support Liz and I thought that the only thing I can do activity-wise is walk.

“I made a weekly plan for 20 weeks and when I added up what I thought I could do each week it came to 539 miles - but I have dropped the plan because I am way ahead of it.”

Mr Lancaster, who is recording each mile he covers with a smart phone app, said: “It is unusual because it is not like walking so many miles in however many days, it is sort of in bits.

“I have had a lot of support, donations and sponsorship from colleagues at work, family and friends and various groups I have got connections with."

So far he has covered 300 miles – shift patterns mean he is not always able to walk to work – and had raised £851 towards his target.

On October 18 Mrs Hilland will take part in the zip wire slide from the Tyne Bridge and Mr Lancaster plans to walk the 12-plus miles from Sainsbury’s and arrive just before the effort starts.