Harpenden Paralympian David Clarke set a blistering pace on a 100km charity walk from London to Brighton recently – literally.

Britain’s most capped blind footballer still had sore feet a week after completing his mammoth 24-hour trek between the two centres. But blisters aside, David managed to blitz his £1,000 fundraising target for Blind Veterans UK, with donations surpassing £1,600.

Accompanied by friend and guide Steve Brady, David explained that he took up the challenge as “I didn’t want to just support Blind Veterans UK, I wanted to do the walk.”

However he admitted, “I didn’t realise it was going to be so hard. I was clambering over stiles, through kissing gates and it was incredibly undulating.

“The agony from half-way was significant, but we didn’t want to quit – we just thought about what the money would do, and the cause is fantastic.”

David said the journey was “incredibly beautiful” through the likes of the South Downs.

A spokesman for the charity, which gives blind veterans the skills and confidence to pick up their life and regain independence, said: “All of us are so grateful for David’s support and for the incredible amount he has raised.”