Gordon Pope (left) previously participated in the sponsored Step by Step walk in 2020

A Hampshire resident walks between two famous homes 272 times to raise money to support a charity for homeless youth.

Gordon Pope, who lives in Holybourne, Hampshire, walks between Elizabeth Gaskell’s House and Jane Austen House in Chawton, near Alton, as part of the Step by Step 272 Challenge.

The challenge sees Step by Step supporters carry out a task around number 272 to benefit the Aldershot-based charity.

The 75-year-old has already surpassed his initial fundraising goal of £ 722 and now hopes to reach his next goal of £ 1,722 soon.

Soon on the verge of closing in on 100 walks, Gordon has also left fliers in stores on his route to help raise awareness of the challenge and the charity.

Speaking on his JustGiving page, Gordon said, “I wanted to raise awareness of the exceptional work that Step by Step is doing in our community and raise funds for the housing and overall support our young people desperately need.

“Choosing a local walk that could be repeated 272 times became easy when it was realized that famous writer Elizabeth Gaskell lived in Holybourne and famous writer Jane Austen lived in Chawton. So why not walk from one to the other, taking “The Jane Austen Trail” along the way? “

To sponsor Gordon, Click here.