Former Crispin School headteacher Paul James is putting one foot in front of the other — and has been for more than 1,800km — all in support of children going through the hardest time of their lives.

Now living in Wells, Paul is preparing for the final leg of his mission to walk the full length of Italy in aid of Winston's Wish, a charity that supports children after the death of a parent or sibling.

He sets off again this September to complete the last 250km, finishing at Santa Maria di Leuca on the heel of Italy — a milestone that will mark the end of a journey started years ago near the Swiss border.

Paul has already raised over £8,500 for the charity, which is close to his heart. He lost his own father just before his 14th birthday and says the lack of proper support left a lasting impact on him, his mum, sister, and four younger brothers.

"If we'd had the right help, things could have been very different," he said. "That's why I'm doing this — to make sure no child has to go through that kind of grief on their own."

Paul is now a Volunteer Community Ambassador for Winston's Wish, giving talks at schools, attending local events and spreading the word about the charity's work. Last year alone, Winston's Wish supported more than 82,000 children and young people.

He'll begin the final stretch of the walk on 19 September and aims to reach the finish on the 28th. You can follow his journey on Instagram at @pauljjames58 or donate via his JustGiving page.

Paul is also keen to hear from any local businesses willing to sponsor his final push. He can be reached at [email protected].

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