A MAN is taking on the challenge of a lifetime by walking the entire length of Hadrian’s Wall to raise awareness of the disease that killed his mum...accompanied by his pet ferret.

Charlie Hammerton, 22, from Southend, has owned Bandit for three years and takes the beloved animal everywhere with him. Bandit has already conquered Snowdon, been on holiday to Cornwall and enjoyed trips to London.

Now the inseparable duo are taking on their biggest challenge – walking 84 miles in three-and-a-half days. Their fundraising effort is in memory of Charlie’s mum, Jan, who died last month.

Charlie, a senior aircraftman in the RAF, is currently based at RAF Coningsby, in Lincolnshire. He said: “My mum passed away peacefully at St Elizabeth Hospice, in Ipswich, on March 2 from motor neurone disease. While this might seem a slightly crazy thing to do it’s good to be able to throw myself into planning the hike and doing something positive to benefit two great charities.

“It’s not a bad challenge for a seasoned walker at more than 80 miles long, but it’s going to be extra hard to complete with a hiking partner who is just six inches tall and sharing a tent is no fun as while he sleeps like a log, Bandit also stinks like only a happy healthy ferret can.”

Sponsorship money will go towards St Elizabeth Hospice and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Charlie, who was an air cadet in Southend before joining the RAF, starts the walk in Newcastle today – just days after his mum’s funeral. He hopes to finish some 20 miles west of Carlisle on Thursday.

Charlie said: “I’m aiming to be the fastest man and ferret to walk the entire path. Bandit is good company and goes most places with me but his conversation is limited so it would be great to meet up with any locals along the way for just a few miles of this expedition.

“I want to raise funds for both St Elizabeth Hospice and the Motor Neurone Disease Association. The hospice was brilliant with my mum and I also want to support the work the Motor Neurone Disease Association Association does to make sure that no one has to go through what mum did in the future.”

He hopes to break the record for the fastest time a man and ferret have completed the Hadrian’s Wall walk – but thinks he and Bandit may be the first pair of their kind to take on the challenge.

He added: “Ferrets sleep 18 hours a day so I am not expecting him to walk all of it.

“People do ask me about his welfare when he is out, but I know when he is unhappy or tired. He climbs up my leg and goes to sleep on my shoulder.

“He walks really well on his lead – some ferrets go a bit wild but he walks like a dog by my side.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/charles-hammerton. Follow their journey at facebook.com/adventurewithbandit