DOROTHY House chief executive John Davies and his springer spaniel Myrtle have found time to stop for a cup of tea or two on their marathon 180-mile walk around the region.

The former Army officer is visiting all 28 Dorothy House shops in 20 towns spanning the hospice’s 700-square mile region as part of his One Man and His Dog walking tour.

So far, he’s been to Dorothy House shops in Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Shepton Mallet, Frome, Warminster and Westbury, where he found time to stop for tea with staff and supporters, before going on to Trowbridge.

Mr Davies said: “It has been fantastic. People have been incredibly kind and generous. We’ve raised about £3,000 so far.

“I’m surviving on tea. I’m probably drinking about six cups of tea a day at the moment. It’s killing me!”

The former Major in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers left the army in 2014 to join Dorothy House Hospice. He planned the walk because he wanted to meet the community that the hospice serves in Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset and Wiltshire.

His walking tour launched the hospice’s bold Everyday, Everyone plan for 2018-2025 to deliver outstanding palliative and end-of-life care across the region.

During the tour, Mr Davies and the Dorothy House team have been sharing the hospice’s vision for the future, meeting local people, businesses, charities and community groups and raising vital funds for patient care.

Mr Davies said: “It’s been a delight to meet so many local people during the One Man and His Dog tour and discuss the hospice’s ambitious plans to meet rising end of life care needs.

“We’ve had superb support from community groups, charities, town mayors, schools and the local media and I greatly value the opportunity to walk with and meet with new and existing supporters.”

“Myrtle and I are both in good shape with no injuries so far and my Army training in navigation, terrain recognition and planning has come in handy from my earlier career.”

Yesterday (Thursday), October 25), Mr Davies walked from Trowbridge to Melksham and today (Friday) (Fri, October 26), he will be walking from Melksham to Devizes, where he and Myrtle will hitch a lift on a Wadworth Brewery dray pulled by Shire horses.

Tomorrow (Saturday, October 27), he will trek from Devizes to Chippenham via Calne,- which at 14.5 miles will be his longest daily walk.

Mr Davies plans to finish his marathon walk in Bath on Friday, November 2.

His tour will also take inMalmesbury, Badminton, Marshfield, Corsham, Bradford on Avon and the Dorothy House Hospice headquarters at Winsley.

To support Dorothy House and the One Man and His Dog fundraising tour visit www.dorothyhouse.org.uk/blog/omhd