YOUNG cancer sufferer Tom Buckley has already overcome steep hills and icy conditions in his bid to complete a coast-to-coast walk he fears he may not finish.

Tom, who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in September, is on a mission to trek 180 miles and raise £20,000 for the Christie cancer hospital in Manchester.

Despite missing half a lung and several muscles, as well as having bone replacements, Tom is determined to carry on.

Tom, 23, from Comberbach in Northwich, said: "When I first decided to do this challenge I knew I would find it hard, but I never realised just how much the cancer I have had, and still have, would affect me.

"Every morning I feel weak and worn out and I really struggle to walk up the hills, but I've realised that the human body is more durable than we think. It's easy to give up, but it's more rewarding to carry on."

Tom set off from St Bees Head, Cumbria on Saturday after a big bowl of porridge.

He is joined by friends and family including his father Gordon, a former RAF pilot who now flies for Flybe, mother Dawn, and twin sister Jennifer.

To sponsor Tom go to www.justgiving.com/thebuckers .               Keep up-to-date with Tom's walk here.

Also walking with him some of the way is Professor Tim Eden, Tom's first paediatric oncologist at the Christie and 'second dad' who has recently retired.

Tom, who has endured chemotherapy, radiotherapy and operations, said: "The enormity of the challenge I have taken on became apparent as the day went on.

"Having half a lung missing, a knee replacement, a tibia replacement and missing muscle made the high hills we had to scramble up seem that much more difficult.

"Knowing that people I have never met before have read my story in the newspaper or on the internet and decided to sponsor me has really helped me to carry on."

When the M.E.N first revealed his `walk of bravery' in October Tom told how his father would complete the walk if he was unable to do so.

At the time Tom said: "If I am not around to do it, my dad has promised to do it in my memory."

Following the article Tom was inundated with people wanting to sponsor him.

Tom developed a cancer of the eye when he was two weeks old and at 19 was diagnosed with bone cancer in his leg.

The disease, called osteosarcoma, spread and has returned over the past three years - twice in his lung and twice in his eye socket.

Tom, who had planned to be a journalist, hopes to finish his walk at Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire on December 16.

He has so far walked through the Lake District stopping at Braithwaite, near Keswick, Ennerdale Bridge, Honister Pass, Ennerdale Water and climbing the steep Buttermere Fell.

To sponsor Tom go to www.justgiving.com/thebuckers .               Keep up-to-date with Tom's walk here.