Former England cricket captain Mike Gatting is to head a 250-mile walk round East Anglia aiming to raise �500,000 for charity.

The walk is in aid of a children's ward at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and Sargent Cancer Care for Children.

The aim is to ensure that children and young people with cancer and their families get the practical help and emotional support they need.

"We are helping these children. It is amazing to see how much they go through," said Mr Gatting as he visited a children's ward at Addenbrooke's.

Gold medallist

"They are so brave and you wonder how they put up with it all.

"They carry on with life and get on with it."

The walk, for Stride Out for Addenbrooke's and Sargent Together (SOFAST 2003) is starting at Addenbrooke's and ending at Parker's Piece in Cambridge.

Joining Mr Gatting on the 11-day walk, which begins on 18 September, will be Commonwealth Weightlifting gold medallist David Morgan, who will be training the walkers to make sure they are fit for the challenge.

They will leave Cambridge for Chelmsford, then go on to Ipswich and up the coast to Great Yarmouth and inland to Norwich.

They will return to Cambridge on 28 Septetmber via Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket.