Always the first to volunteer, a special sponsored walk has been organised to honour the past president of Frome Rotary, Karl Waldeck.

A keen walker and explorer, Karl who was also keenly involved in the local scouting movement for over 30 years, died suddenly last year.

So a memorial walk of up to 120 miles on the Mendip Ring long distance footpath aims to raise money for his favoured

charity, Classrooms in the Cloud.

Karl was a founder member and former President of Frome Town Rotary, 2019-2020 and did a huge amount of work for the local community. His main interest was walking, and he had visited Everest base camp as well at The Great Wall of China.

The Mendip Ring follows the boundary of Mendip District Council in East Somerset. The walk is provisionally scheduled for the Spring Bank Holiday, and will start and finish at East Woodlands Church near Frome.

You can either try for the full length or sponsor other walkers on the challenge - broken down into 18 sections of around 6 – 8 miles. The route is not easy to follow in places, and it is as much a test of navigational skill as physical ability. Walkers will be free to complete the challenge in a shorter or longer period to suit, or even just get walking for a few hours.

For those doing the full 10 days, the proposed schedule is:

:Saturday 29th May East Woodlands Church to Farleigh House 13.9 miles

:Sunday 30th Farleigh House to Charlton (near Kilmersdon) 11.6 miles

:Monday 31st Charlton to East Harptree Woods 11.0 miles

:Tuesday 1st June East Harptree Woods to Burrington Combe 8.4 miles

:Wednesday 2nd Burrington Combe to Rodney Stoke 8.4 miles

:Thursday 3rd Rodney Stoke to Westhay Nature Reserve 10.1 miles

:Friday 4th Westhay Nature Reserve to Walton Hill 13.3 miles

:Saturday 5th Walton Hill to Keinton Mandeville 13.6 miles

:Sunday 6th Keinton Mandeville to Batcombe 14.8 miles

: Monday 7th Batcombe to finish at East Woodland Church. 12.2 miles

Total 121.3 miles

Entrants will need to arrange their own transport to and from the start and finish of each day's walking where possible, although the Rotary is hoping to be able to provide a limited number of volunteer drivers.

To find out more about the walk click HERE :

the Mendip Ring map

For a registration form email [email protected]

There is an entry fee of £5 per person, children and dogs free, or you can donate directly by clicking HERE :.

their Just Giving site