Hero's welcome for epic Cannock fundraiser who scaled mountains and cycled 100 miles

Will Bryan from Cannock was given a hero's welcome home on Sunday after completing the epic 11 Day Challenge in aid of Chesyln Hay youngster Aimee Heath who has cerebral palsy.

Will's incredibly testing challenge, which began on September 2, saw him run to the peaks of the UK's three highest mountains - Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon - a total climb of 9,800ft over approx 27 miles.

Then just a day later he began seven days and nights sleeping rough on the streets of Cannock before rowing a total of 53 miles from Coven to Stratford-upon-Avon on a two day trip and then returning home on after tackling a 52 mile cycle ride.

The 30-year-old from Church Street has so far raised more than £1,100 for his efforts with more funds expected to come through in the coming days.

The money will help pay for a life-changing Eye-Gaze device for Aimee which uses a small infra-red camera to track eye movement as she looks at words and letters on a screen. This is then converted into spoken words.

Aimee contracted meningitis at just five days old in July 2011. The illness developed into cerebral palsy which affected her limbs and left her unable to walk and talk.

Days after completing the remarkable challenge, Will said it was one of the toughest things he had done in his life.

"I feel so proud to have done it - it feels great and very rewarding," he said. "There were many tough and scary times throughout but because I'm Christian I sat down and prayed and told myself this is all for Aimee's benefit and that's why I'm doing it.

"It was so varied what I did that it took so long to adjust. It was a very surreal experience.

"When I was doing the homelessness phase I found a lot of people were quite judgmental and gave me funny looks which at times was hard for me to go through.

"The most difficult part was at the mountains. A lot of people walk the Three Peaks but I decided to run them and it was really difficult. When I was on Ben Nevis, I was close to the peak at about 11.30pm and it was pitch black and the rain was falling down – it was scary.

During the challenge Will used his Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to update his followers with the progress by uploading videos and pictures.

"What was really pleasing was how the community and how my followers on Facebook really rallied behind me and sent me messages of support."

This is not the first time Will has shown remarkable bravery in helping other people.

In recent months he ran three marathons in three consecutive days on the Jurassic Coast and cycled the width of Britain in a single day.

And on Sunday there were scenes of celebration when dozens of people lined up the streets of Great Wryley to see him cross the finish line.

The event was organised by Aimee's parents Charlotte and Stewart.

Will said: "It was amazing to come back to that reception. Charlotte put up a banner which was put up like a finish line which was really nice. I wasn't expecting it."

Aimee's delighted mum, Charlotte, said she was amazed what Will had done for her daughter.

"What Will has done for Aimee is absolutely amazing," the 26-year-old said. "To go to all that effort for her shows incredible bravery. He is Aimee's guardian angel and we as a family cannot thank him enough.

"We didn't know him several weeks ago now it is like he's part of the family.

"To have raised that amount of money is a tremendous effort and provides us with a great start to get Aimee the Eye-Gaze device. We initially thought it would cost about £1,000 but she did an assessment for it last month and following that it looks like we will need to raise about £4,000.

"It will make a big difference to her life."

Even though the challenge is over, donations can still be made online by visiting www.willbryan.co.uk/aimee.