A BRAVE dad was joined by more than 50 walkers across the country as he took on a 24-hour challenge for charity.

Marcus Evans, 35, who continues to battle splenic marginal zone lymphoma fives years on from his diagnosis, took on the mammoth trek to raise cash for Bloodwise.

As part of his incredible efforts to raise awareness of the condition, the father-of-two invited as many people as possible to join him wherever they were.

It led to 51 people taking part in places as far away as Leeds and Warwick with a total of £7436.78 being raised - smashing the £5,000 target.

Mr Evans, who lives in Millbridge Road, Witham, managed an impressive 55 miles in the 24-hour time frame.

He explained: “It was tough, I pulled a muscle in my right leg about four hours in so that made things tricky.

“It was absolutely sweltering too so if giving up had been an option then I would’ve taken it - the only reason I kept going was because I said I would.

“All of the support I had was brilliant, there was never a moment where I didn’t have someone alongside me.”

In total the team covered more than 510 miles in tough conditions which saw temperatures touch 30 degrees.

Mr Evans: “Everyone who took part is an inspiration, to come up with this idea and to have more than 50 people taking part four weeks later is amazing.”

Mr Evans promised to get a body wax if the cash topped £5,000 and he would lose his beard if he hit £6,000.

And he says his family and friends plan on holding him to the pledges and he hopes to raise a further £500 as part of his body wax.

Visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/marcus-evans11.