Walker’s efforts almost up in smoke

He hopes to raise £100,000 to bring clean water to the world’s poorest children – but a young man’s charity efforts were almost doused when disaster struck in Perth.

Ollie Mason was forced to flee his support vehicle when it went up in flames in the centre of the city on Monday night.

HE HOPES to raise £100,000 to bring clean water to the world’s poorest children – but a young man’s charity efforts were almost doused when disaster struck in Perth.

Ollie Mason was forced to flee his support vehicle when it went up in flames in the centre of the city on Monday night.

The 23-year-old web designer from Chester was just 12 days into an epic twomonth challenge, which will see him walk from John O’Groats to Land’s End with a large jerry can on his head.

For each and every one of the 1,000 miles, the unwieldy canister will be filled to the brim with 20 litres of water – making it as heavy as the average five year old child.

After trekking 17 miles down the A9 into the Fair City, the father-of-one was inside the Spaceship campervan updating his 21,000 Twitter followers with manager Eddie Ottmann when he noticed smoke billowing from the bonnet.

“I smelled burning and when I looked out the front window I realised the van was on fire,” Ollie told The Courier.

“Soon there were full flames but luckily we managed to smother them with some damp towels.

“If we hadn’t acted quickly it could have been a total disaster.

“All my supplies and computer equipment for my daily social networking updates were inside. It would also have certainly meant I would have had to postpone my next leg.”

The pair called the RAC and a fault was discovered in the auxiliary battery.

A frantic search then ensued to find replacement parts before local garages shut – with success coming only at the 11th hour.

“Thank goodness it happened in Perth and not on a road in the middle of nowhere,” Ollie continued.

“People were walking past asking if they could help and when we told them about the challenge they were really supportive.”

The high-profile Water Run campaign, which is being backed by a number of celebrities, is in aid of Oxfam, Music 4 children, Water aid and the Breakthrough foundation.

Ollie has spent nearly two years training – but doctors have warned he could cause permanent nerve damage.

“I understand my body is probably going to be a bit of a wreck at the end but I wanted to push myself and show how hard it is for people in the developing world who have to walk for miles for water – much of which is dirty and makes them very sick.”

Donations can be made online by visiting Ollie’s webpage: thewaterrun.com

Ollie Mason’s charity challenge was almost cut short after his supply van went up in flames.