Man does a million steps for alcohol abuse charity

A man has raised £7,000 for a charity he credits with saving his life by walking more than one million steps in a month.

David Kerr said his drinking had led him to a place he "couldn't see a way out of" but Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care "gave me my life back".

Starting with a 31-mile (50km) race, he proceeded to walk the length of the South Downs Way, covering 511 miles in August in aid of the charity.

"I wanted to give something back to them in return, enough that the next person who calls them gets the same chance I did," Kerr said.

Despite covering more than 30,000 steps a day on average, he said he would "continue to start each day with a walk".

The 42-year-old said he that whenever he felt tired, he "reflected back on what pain really felt like".

"Either the physical ache in my heart from the loneliness I felt almost every day for over 15 years, or the excruciating pain when I was unable to lie down because my liver and kidneys were failing due to alcohol abuse," he said.

Kerr, from Oxted, added that rotating between hiking boots, trail shoes and walking sandals seemed to have helped him avoid blisters during the month-long challenge.

His Crowdfunder page is due to remain open until 30 September in an attempt to reach £10,000 in total.

Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care provides support and counselling for people struggling with alcohol, drugs or mental health challenges.

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