ON Saturday, Clive Lewis, of Stonelea, New Hedges, charity marathon walker for specialised diabetes equipment (not an NHS provision) returned home from a successful first phase of his 11th long distance event.

He covered routes in Snowdonia, including a very interesting, beautiful footpath around lakes Peris and Padarn. To complete the phase, Clive climbed to the summit of Mount Snowdon from Pen-y-Pass on the miners track, and from Llanberis via the tea rooms and the halfway stop-over.

He met and walked many stages with so many interesting walkers, some really struggling with the badly worn footpaths.

Along the Llanberis path were large bags of heavy boulders dropped by helicopters to repair the extensive damaged areas.

On Clive's second return to base, he met Dr. Luca Tommaso Cavalli-Storza, an Italian born in Milano and trained in London. He is now a regional adviser in nutrition with the World Health Organisation.

Dr. Cafalli-Storza, who resides in Rome, was very interested in Clive's voluntary work for diabetes, as at one time he studied in that field for Third World countries.

Clive was offered generous sponsorship during the week from very enthusiastic hoteliers and proprietors of guest houses and families in the area.

The second phase of this event, when he covers the Llangollen and southern aspect of the Shropshire Union Canal towpaths, will be in February 2010, as previously reported.

" I would like to thank everyone for their support," said Clive. "I have also contacted the practice manager of the High Street surgery in Llanberis with the view to purchasing equipment for the diabetes clinic."