An intrepid walker has a series of targets firmly set in his mind - to walk 200 miles, see 20 churches and 20 mountains, follow 20 rivers, visit 20 inns, drink 20 pints of Guinness, burn 20,000 calories, and raise more than £2,000 for our Hospice 2000 Appeal, all in the Year 2000.

Coast-to-coast walker David Maughan, from Dunnington, who plans to follow the route of his book trekking from Ravenglass, on the Irish Sea, to Scarborough, to raise more than £2,000 for the St Leonard's Hospice Millennium Appeal

St Leonard's supporter David Maughan will next month be trekking from Ravenglass, on the Irish Sea, to Scarborough, following a west-east route he pioneered in 1993 in his book On Foot From Coast To Coast: The North Of England Way.

David is looking forward to completing the route again after seven years, and will be helped on his way by a message of encouragement from the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, who is President of St Leonard's Hospice.

Dr Hope says: "What support for the hospice could be more active than this 200-mile coast to coast walk across the north of England?

"I am always glad for an opportunity to encourage the work of the hospice, and I am therefore especially pleased to be able to commend this splendid initiative."

Another message of support has come from the US Ambassador to Britain, Phil Lader, who recently completed his own walk from Land's End to John O'Groats - accompanied by bodyguards.

In the message, he tells David: "Not only is it a fitting means of celebrating the Millennium, but it will also support a very worthwhile cause."

David will carry a 30-pound pack and has been in strict training, walking to work with a pack and working out in the gym.

He says: "I have been looking forward to undertaking the walk for two years as an opportunity to celebrate the best of the English countryside in the new Millennium, whilst raising funds for Hospice 2000, a very good cause.

"I feel very privileged to be fit enough to enjoy the wonderful sights and pleasures of the countryside and just wish to try to give some support to those who are less able to have such experiences."

David would welcome further supporters for his walk. Sponsorship can be for miles walked, number of churches viewed, mountains seen, rivers followed, calories burned, inns visited or pints of Guinness drunk - though he hopes not too many people sponsor the drink or he may never finish the walk.

He can be contacted on 01904 488455.

A bridge day in aid of the Millennium Appeal will be held at Pocklington School, West Green, Pocklington, between 10am and 4pm on Monday, April 3. Tickets £10, including lunch and refreshments, are available by ringing 01759 302393.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.