EIGHTEEN days into his marathon hike from Grays to Land's End, Thurrock fundraiser Pel Scopes is approaching the end of his trek – and has crashed through the £20,000 mark on his Just Giving page, which had an initial target of £1,000.

Pel Scopes' effort for the Friends of Treetops School has caught the public imagination, since he set out from his home on Friday, 3 January.  

His Facebook page has been a record of Pel's journey, with details of the places he has stayed, the friends he has made and welcomes received and how he is coping with the task.

Pel with his trolly, Bruce.

Pushing his belongings in a shopping trolley called Bruce, throughout the trek Pel has retained his good spirits and sense of humour, yesterday (Sunday, 19 January) saying: "A lot of people have been asking if I'm ex-military… I'm just a guy who bought some boots and had a Forrest Gump moment!

"People have been wanting to help wherever I go."

Throughout the journey Pel has attracted the attention of local media en-route and even made it into the Sun newspaper.

Though the trek is set to end in a few days when Pel reaches England's most westerly point, you can still sponsor him on his 315 mile journey, via this link.  More than £17,000 has been donated via the page and, with Gift Aid and direct contributions, the Friends of Treetops have confirmed fundraiser is now in excess of £20,000.