Kind Fifers keep Alex on trek Town helps charity walker keep up his mission to visit every lifeboat station in UK

With barely any thought following a “rough” 2014, Alex Ellis-Roswell looked out his walking boots, packed his bag and headed for his nearest lifeboat station in Margate.

Now, almost three years and 8,500 miles on, he has trodden nearly all of the British and Irish coast, raising an astonishing £52,000 for the RNLI in the process.

The people of Fife rallied around Mr Ellis-Roswell on the epic fundraising walk to take in all the seafaring charity’s lifeboat stations after a nasty fall dealt his trek a blow.

He slipped as he neared Anstruther last week, suffering a ligament tear and calf bone fracture on his right ankle during the fall.

However, Mr Ellis-Roswell was given a “great” welcome by the Fife village, where he was offered shelter, helping him towards a quick recovery.

Last night the 24-year-old, who has about 1,000 miles to go in his journey, said the Anstruther lifeboat volunteers had been among the “closest” he had met on his tour of the stations.

He said: “I fractured my ankle as I passed outside Kingsbarns. Anstruther was great, everybody really helped me out when I needed it.

“It is really frustrating, it was not even a good story. I was just walking along a flat, straight, grassy path. It must have been just a tiny little dip.

“Considering the last few years I have been walking over mountains and shingle beaches, I was disappointed.

“I have met thousands of lifeboat crews, thousands of volunteers at the RNLI and Anstruther has a nice feeling – a family feeling.”

After several days there, he managed to set off as far as Kinghorn earlier this week. However he has had to stop in Dalgety Bay to rest his ankle again.

The walker, a seasonal farm worker in his native Kent, said he put little thought into taking on the 9,500-mile trek back in August 2014.

Mr Ellis-Roswell added: “2014 was just a really bad year. I was going through a rough time. I wanted to go on an adventure.

“I am heading home now. I will finish off in Kent in about four months time. It’s been all in one go, a non-stop walk. I am trying to raise £10 for every mile.

“The amount raised just shows how well supported lifeboats are around the country. People have a real understanding of how important they are.”

In addition to Fife, Alex says he fell in love with Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides, saying they were “stunning”.

To donate, visit www.mydonate.bt. com/fundraisers/longwalkround

Anstruther was great, everybody really helped me out when I needed it

Picture: Steven Brown. Alex Ellis-Roswell continues on through Fife as part of his 8,500-mile trek to raise cash for the RNLI. He got some valuable help in the East Neuk.