THE son of Geri Laithwaite, an environmental campaigner from Tavistock and co-ordinator for WestDen, is walking 1,014km to raise awareness of local and global water issues.

Maxim Laithwaite, 29, will walk the South West Coast Path, including ascents of 35,000m. He intends to carry no money with him but will rely on the kindness of strangers for a little snack and, perhaps, a place to spend the night. He said this was because the poorest in the world did not know where their next meal was coming from.

Maxim will leave Minehead tomorrow (Friday) and finish by joining with the Coastalong for WaterAid team at South Haven Point in Poole, Dorset on September 12.

He would welcome people to join him for a 'walk and talk' somewhere along the route and his planned itinerary can be seen at his website http://www.waterpilgrim.com">www.waterpilgrim.com

All funds raised from the walk will be donated to WaterAid, a charity working on the cutting edge of the world's water problems. For a gift of just £15, WaterAid can provide one person in Africa or Asia with a lasting supply of safe, clean water, sanitation and hygiene education. You can donate online at www/justgiving.com/waterpilgrim

Maxim said he was disillusioned with the way the world was going: 'The global issues we face as a species can seem daunting at times and that fear itself is the first hurdle. Once we get over that and embrace the wonders of our very existence, we can get on with finding our own individual local actions that will link together for a better world.'

'Water permeated every facet of our lives,' he said. 'Yet we so often take it for granted. The issues are far reaching and range from climate change, sea-levels and flooding, to poverty, pollution, clean drinking water and sanitation.'

WestDen is playing a supporting role in the walk, including chocolate and plaster deliveries.