A FORMER Sky Sports presenter is to walk the length of Hadrian’s Wall to raise vital funds for charity.

Dave Clark will put on his walking boots and start the 90-mile walk today, which he expects will take him six days to complete.

It is part of the #MarchForACure campaign to raise money for pioneering research projects supported by Parkinson’s UK. The walk will start east of Newcastle at Wallsend and will finish at Bowness-on-Solway.

Dave was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011 and has since played a huge role in raising awareness of the condition by sharing his own experiences.

Since 2016, he has also been Parkinson’s UK’s Champion of Walking, raising tens of thousands of pounds with his challenges.

He recently announced he was stepping down from presenting Sky Sports Darts after appearing on screen with Parkinson’s for almost a decade.

This year, he had planned to trek to Everest Base Camp, but Covid-19 meant it was not able to go ahead. Instead, he decided to try a route a little closer to home.

The March for a Cure event, which Dave founded, has raised more than £300,000 to-date, to fund Parkinson’s UK’s research projects.

Previous years have seen Dave joined by his friend Martin Turner, former head of Formula 1 at Sky, who also has Parkinson’s.

They tackled the walk from the Cumbria coast to the Yorkshire coast, as well as the West Highland Way and the Dales Way.

“It may not be the Himalayas, but this is still going to be a huge challenge for me,” explained Dave. “My 10 years living with Parkinson’s means walking is becoming increasingly difficult and I’m reliant on medication three times a day just to keep me moving.

“That’s why I’m so determined to raise as much as I can for Parkinson’s UK. The medication I take was discovered more than 50 years ago - I believe we can do better.

“My fundraising will go towards pioneering research that will bring us closer to finding a cure for Parkinson’s.”

Steve Ford, Chief Executive of Parkinson’s UK, said: “We’re in awe of Dave Clark for taking on this incredible feat for Parkinson’s UK.

"He is an inspiration for so many people in the Parkinson’s community, showing that having Parkinson’s doesn’t have to define you or hold you back.”

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-clark85 to sponsor him.