A DAD has completed a marathon challenge to raise money for a charity close to his heart.

Simon Haakerson walked the 87 miles of the Ridgeway to raise funds for the Crohn's in Childhood Research Association (CICRA) after his daughter was diagnosed with Crohn's in 2006.

Crohn's is a painful bowel disease which can cause diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Simon's 12-year-old daughter Jasmine was diagnosed with it in after she was taken to Great Western Hospital's emergency department after falling ill.

Simon started his journey from Ivinghoe Beacon, the furthest point east on the Ridgeway and travelled to Overton Hill near Avebury.

He completed his journey in four days.

He said: "Now the walk is over, I feel relieved and pretty amazed that I actually did it.

"It was an experience in itself and although I haven't got an accurate total yet, it looks like the total will be over £1,000 "I surprised myself really how I somehow just took it all in my stride and didn't get fazed by it at all. I think after the first day and night when it had been raining constantly anything seemed possible to me.

"I met quite a few people along the way and there was one group of walkers on my last day who were doing the whole trail in the opposite direction.

"They were doing it in a far more civilised way than me, taking six days and staying at bed and breakfasts along the way. They thought I was a bit nuts doing it my way but I think you've got to make these things a challenge for it to make any difference."

Simon said he pushed himself to do as many miles a day as possible and has the blisters to prove it.

"I suffered a bit but it was only temporary. If a cure can be found for Crohn's through funding from idiots like me doing daft things like this then my daughter and loads more like her won't have to suffer anymore and that makes it worthwhile.

"I've never minded my own company so I was okay to be on my own but you do sometimes end up in a funny place and think of the strangest things you wouldn't normally think of.

"At the end of my journey my family met me at Overton Hill and we went to a pub for lunch and it was absolute bliss. To be indoors, warm and comfortable was the best feeling in the world.

"I think it was the best Guinness and fish and chips that I've ever had."

Simon also visited Ferndale Junior School this week to support youngsters who are holding a basketball event to raise money for CICRA.