A hiking enthusiast from Colden Common, near Winchester, is taking on a challenge of Olympic proportions.

John Edwards is not going to this summer's games in Athens, but plans to visit America and trek along the Olympic Peninsula near Seattle.

He will spend seven days on a solo hike this July and hopes to raise money for Hampshire Search and Rescue (HANTSAR).

The charity helps emergency services to find missing people, especially the elderly and vulnerable.

John (48), a former Territorial, works as a sales adviser at B&Q in Eastleigh.

His wife, Debbie, runs an aromatherapy business in Wickham. It was when a volunteer for HANTSAR designed a website for Debbie's firm that John decided to help the cause.

He went hiking in Japan last year and managed to raise £2,300 for the disability charity, Mencap.

John hopes that this year's 50-mile challenge of hiking through rainforests and over mountains and glaciers will raise over £2,000.

"I just love getting away from civilisation and all the tourist things," says John, who is paying all his travel costs. Hiking gets you away from the stress of everyday life, which is something I think more people should do."

* For more information on the organisation, visit www.hantsar.org. Anyone who wants to sponsor John can call him on 01962 713812.