A Malvern man is set to walk 1,000 kilometres across Spain and Portugal to raise money for doctors in Palestine.

Tom Cole, 33, will embark on his journey in Seville on Monday, April 29, and is expected to walk about a marathon's distance each day over a 30-day period.

The final destination is Santiago de Compostela, in northern Spain, and his route includes a large part of Spain and sections of northern Portugal, following a version of the ancient Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

<hr>

Read more: Malvern: Purdey Hemmings picks Elmhurst Ballet Upper School

<hr>

Mr Cole's fundraising efforts are in support of Medical Aid for Palestinians, a UK charity providing frontline healthcare in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict.

Before starting his journey later this month, Mr Cole, an employee at a national housing charity, shared his motivation for the challenge.

He said: "Like many people, I’ve been deeply affected by the images of civilian suffering coming out of Palestine over the last few months and want to do whatever I can to help.

"The doctors and nurses working with Medical Aid for Palestinians do incredible work in an unbelievably high-risk environment, literally putting their own lives on the line to provide much-needed emergency healthcare to the men, women and children suffering in Gaza and beyond."

He added: “This is going to be a very tough challenge for me, walking 25 miles or more a day in 30-something degree heat, but knowing that any money I raise is going to such an important and urgent cause will keep me going.

"I’ve been training on the Malvern Hills for about 6 months now, but nothing can fully prepare you for walking this kind of distance.”

Anyone interested in contributing to the fundraising efforts can donate at https://justgiving.com/page/pilgrimage-for-palestine.

Mr Cole will also be updating his supporters on his journey on Instagram, at https://www.instagram.com/pilgrimageforpalestine/.