A FATHER will hike along the Great Wall of China to raise money for some of the world's poorest children.

Ben Sheath, 40, from Stockholm Drive, Fulford, is one of nine people walking a 45km stretch of the mammoth 21,196km structure.

Mr Sheath, a dad-of-two, is taking part in the trek next month for Mary's Meals, a charity which serves school meals to underprivileged children.

"It looks a bit daunting and I wasn't quite sure what I was letting myself in for when I signed up, but I'm really looking forward to it," he said.

"I've done a lot of training on the City Walls and been up in the Moors and the Dales.

"The key to training is doing a lot of steps."

The challenge, which takes place from May 5 to May 13 is part of a collective fundraising effort by Mr Sheath's employer Insights - a company providing workplace development packages - to raise enough money for Mary’s Meals to provide meals to over 10,000 children.

The aim of Mary’s Meals is to address the immediate needs of a hungry child by giving them something to eat, and to enable that child to receive the education that can offer an escape from poverty.

Mr Sheath added: "I believe that supporting people in taking control of their own destiny is the best gift we can give.

“To inspire children to learn, develop and take control of their lives from difficult circumstances is an amazing opportunity.

“Mary's Meals is an awesome organisation that will help make the world a more positive place to be."

Aislinn McVeigh, from Mary’s Meals, said: “We are extremely grateful to Insights for helping us reach more children with Mary’s Meals and wish them the very best of luck for their big challenge ahead.

“Our work to feed the world’s poorest children in the most deprived countries every day they attend school would not be possible without the generosity of supporters, such as the amazing employees at Insights.”

To support the fundraising go to justgiving.com/company/InsightsLearningandDevelopment