A TEACHER is stepping out on a fundraising challenge with a difference in support of a friend.

Matt Wash will be walking around 14-and-a-half miles from his home in Lodmoor to his place of work at Piddle Valley First School every day next week to raise funds for the Sara Stonhill Foundation.

Year 3 and 4 teacher Matt has known Sara for 11 years since she trained him to be a teacher and is trying to help raise funds for her treatment for a chordoma tumour, which has caused spinal cord compression and confined her to a wheelchair.

The hydrotherapy and physiotherapy sessions she requires are no longer available on the NHS so close friends have set up the foundation to raise funds for her.

Matt will be setting off at 4am each morning for his epic walk to school and on the last couple of days will be met in Dorchester by headteacher Jayne Browne and will also be joined on the final leg from the Thimble Inn by pupils organised by teaching assistant Claire Hudson.

He is hoping to finish his charity challenge at around 9am on Friday next week and will be greeted with coffee and bacon butties at the school.

In total 39-year-old Matt will walk around 70 miles during the week but he is confident his pupils will support him and keep him going during the school day.

He said: "I have got to just dig deep and keep going."

Matt said Sara was a very popular lady and he was determined to do all he could to raise as much as he could for her.

He said: "I just wanted to help raise funds for her treatment, she's an amazing woman and just deserves it really."

Matt set an original target of £500 but has already exceeded that and is now setting his sights on £1,000.

He said a lot of people knew Sara through teaching and he was hopeful that they would show their supporting by donating for his walking challenge.

To sponsor Matt visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/mattwash

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