A FORMER Ilkley Grammar School pupil is to walk the Dales Way in one go in a bid to help some of the poorest people in the world.

The fundraising challenge will involve Adam Bennett walking almost 80 miles in around 30 hours, starting in Bowness-on-Windermere at at daybreak tomorrow (Tuesday, September 9) and finishing at the Old Bridge in Ilkley , the following morning.

The 22-year-old, who has recently returned to live in Ben Rhydding, after graduating from the University of York, will undertake the challenge to raise money for Y Care International, the international relief and development agency of the YMCA movement in the UK and Ireland.

It works with young people in Africa, Asia and Central America to help them stay healthy and safe, learn the skills needed for work, prepare for emergencies and improve justice systems.

Adam has been chosen to take part in the International Citizen Service (ICS) a programme which gives the opportunity for young volunteers to help some of the poorest people in the world.

As part of the programme Adam will be volunteering in Guatemala for ten weeks from October to December and as part of his commitment to ICS he has been asked to raise £800 for Y Care International to help them with their development work.

In Guatemala, Y Care International uses sports and arts to show young people ways to reduce conflict in communities badly affected by the recent 36 year civil war, without them resorting to gang violence.

By taking part in the ICS programme, Adam is also committed to taking part in Action At Home, a scheme which will involve him volunteering in local community projects on his return to the UK.

Adam,who graduated in July with a 2:1 in biochemistry, with a year in Europe, said: "After spending four years focussing on my studies, I have decided to dedicate some of my time to helping others before applying to to a PhD.

"During my time in Guatemala, I will be living with a local family and will be involved in a community project along with a counterpart from Guatemala.

"I spent my year abroad studying at the University of Valencia where I made every effort to immerse myself in the Valencian way of life by living with Valencians and joining local sports clubs. I intend to have the same approach in Guatemala where I can hopefully use my Spanish to integrate myself in the community so that I can understand the problems left behind by the brutal civil war in which there were thousands of 'disappearances' and many parts of society were, and are still, marginalised.

"I hope this will give me a new perspective to tackle challenges back in the UK as part of my Action At Home commitment. In the future, I intend to undertake a PhD in parasitology - although I am yet to apply - as I feel parasites blight the lives of many people in the developing world and are responsible for a vicious poverty cycle."

Adam, who regularly trains with Ilkley Harriers added: "I have only ever done sections of the Dales Way before so I think this will very challenging but I am determined to complete it.

"I have experience doing longer distance walks as in 2011 I spent two weeks walking the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain and have done the Yorkshire Three Peaks. This is the most distance I will have walked in one go though. If the weather is horrendous on the ninth I may have to suspend the walk but I have chosen that date as a supermoon is due that night which should provide more light depending on the weather. It has been completed solo non-stop before so it is achievable."

Donations can be made on Adam's justgiving page (https://www.justgiving.com/Adam-Bennett9), by texting AYCI90 £1/2/3/4/5/10 to 70070, or to Adam in person.

Donations will go straight to Y Care International and will be used to support their development work in Africa, Asia and Central America. None of the donations will be used to cover Adam's expenses.