Stuart Walker is preparing for his Big Alps Challenge

A leading long-distance athlete is preparing to run across the Alps in a 1,000-mile challenge to raise cash for charity.

Stuart Walker, who currently jointly leads the UK’s Ultra-running championships, will tackle the route from Vienna to Nice in 30 days.

He sets off on his challenge this weekend and hopes to maintain a daily distance of 35 miles as he passes through six countries.

The route uses exposed passes and cols and the Sheffield-based runner says it is the first time such a challenge has been attempted.

The 26-year-old will run solo on his Big Alps Run, carrying a small tent, food and all his equipment, camping most nights.

His venture will raise money for Water for Kids, a charity he supported during his British Isles Challenge in 2010, when he travelled from the Isles of Scilly to Orkney.

The runner has completed 100-mile races and also competes in multi-day adventure races that can last up to five days, non-stop. He also holds the record for running solo across Hadrian’s Wall in 2004, but believes his Alpine event will be the hardest he has tackled.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to the Big Alps Run, but I am expecting it to hurt a lot.

“The purpose is to raise money for charity though, and I have found in the past that this helps me keep going when things get really tough.

“I raised about £3,000 last time, but the Big Alps Run is a much bigger undertaking and I’ve set the target at £10,000.”

The charity works for the provision of clean water and sanitation to communities in developing countries, and has secured wells in many areas where only dangerously dirty water was previously available. Its work helps reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases like dysentery, cholera and typhoid.

There is more information on Stuart Walker’s website, along with information on how to donate.