A MAN from Ross-on-Wye based drilling company Igne, has walked 150 Miles to Kent and has achieved his £2,000 fundraising target, writes Shayna Jacobs.

James Nichols, a member of Igne’s local ground investigation team, left Overross House at 6am on Friday, June 6, with colleagues cheering him on as he departed on his journey towards the company’s unexploded risk mitigation office in Gillingham, Kent.

James says that this walk is his way of honouring his cousin Ellie Paine and has undertaken this journey, deemed ‘A Heavenly Hike’, in honour of raising awareness and funds for the charity ‘Ellie’s Angels’, which was created in 2021 in memory of his cousin.

He spoke out about the mental health struggles she was suffering before she was tragically killed after being hit by a car, aged 16, in Kent.

James’ target for this fundraiser was £2,000 and at the time of going to press his target had been reached and was at £2,095 as he crossed the finish line on Monday afternoon.

The funds will aid the charity in their advocacy of removing stigma from mental health and allowing young people to take control of their own mental health.

James also hopes that by raising a big sum of money he will be able to help fund the further development of their ‘better u’ app, which offers free support for young people by providing a digital journal, mediation, breathing exercises and self-help tools.

Ellie’s Angels is a registered charity with the aim to support young people in accessing help in a way that is familiar to them.

The charity focuses on early intervention advocacy and support, which relies on awareness and fundraising from the public to continue their life changing wor.

The sponsorship raised by James’ 150-mile walk will be crucial in furthering the charity’s work and overall campaign.