Two intrepid JCB employees are limbering up for a non-stop long distance charity walk along the 92miles Staffordshire way.

 Jim Smith of Uttoxeter and Ben Murphy of Tean, who both work on JCB’s backhoe loader production line are hoping to complete the marathon trek in 36 hours.

In the process they will be raising money for the charity MIND-The Mental Health charity. The fundraising is in memory of Jim's dad who tragically took his own life back in 2012. Bob was a highly respected, popular figure at JCB where he worked for backhoe loader in the manufacturing department based at the company's world headquarters in Rocester for over 30 years.

Jim said:- “ it is a fitting walk because my dad often discussed doing it with me when he retired. We have decided to raise the money for MIND because this is often a first port of call for people suffering with mental health issues this including suicide which is now very close to my heart since my dad took his own life. To make this walk a more personal challenge I joked 2years ago to friends that I would undertake this Trek with a mullet hairstyle as a tribute to my dad. Who according to the young lads on the darts team we played for was trying to bring back this hairstyle into fashion, therefore for the last 2 years I have been growing my hair to make this possible”

Jim also added: “Doing the walk in one go is going to be challenging and tough, it means part of the trek will be in the dark, but we hope it will capture people’s imagination and help us raise a lot of money for a good cause”.

The Staffordshire way spans the length of the county, wending it’s way from Mow Cop on the Cheshire border and finishing at Kinver Edge on the border with Worcestershire. Along the way it takes in numerous public rights of way, canal towpaths and stunning scenery.

Jim 32 and Ben 31 will start the trek at Mow Cop on May 28^th at Midday and if all goes to plan should be arriving at Kinver Edge in the early hours on Saturday 30^th of May. Neither are strangers to long distance walking having completed the 192 mile coast to coast route across Cumbria and North Yorkshire 3 years ago for Ben’s charity of choice, the Queens hospital in Birmingham. However, this is the first time they have tried to complete a long distance path in one go.

Jim added: “ we have been doing training walks on parts of the Staffordshire way that we are not familiar with, so we will be as prepared as possible but until you actually get in to a walk like this you never know quite what is around the corner.