Severe knee pain and an impressive crop of blisters combined to force the Hounslow Chronicle News Editor to abandon his 100km charity walk at the half way stage.

Chris Longhurst was attempting to complete the gruelling Thames Path Challenge on Saturday September 14.

The challenge involves walking along the river from Bishops Park, in Fulham, to Henley-upon-Thames, in Oxfordshire, in 24 hours.

Despite plenty of training and setting off at a confident pace, by the time he reached Staines-upon-Thames, in Surrey – just 1km short of the 50km mark – progress ground to a halt.

Chris said: “It had all gone so well up to that point, my feet were a bit sore but I had bags of energy still to use and was feeling mentally ready for the night stage of the course.

“I’d breezed through Putney, Barnes and Kew, passing Chiswick and Brentford on the opposite bank, down through Richmond, Kingston, Hampton Court and Sunbury.

“The weather was pretty miserable but the scenery was beautiful and the enthusiasm from my fellow walkers was inspiring.

“The knee pain happened so suddenly it took me totally by surprise.

“Just as I reached Staines High Street my right knee buckled and I knew I couldn’t take another step.”

Chris, who signed up for the event in May, has spent the past few months fundraising on behalf of ECO, the charitable name for Hounslow Urban Farm, in Feltham.

Father and daughter team Tony and Alice Purdy and their staff moved the farm from Syon Park and have set themselves a task of building a new education centre and indoor rainforest on site.

This year they were chosen by the new Mayor of Hounslow, Councillor Sachin Gupta, to be his official charity for his term in office and it was this that inspired Chris to do his bit as well.

Chris added: “I was gutted because I so wanted to go the whole way.

“The Urban Farm is great supporters of the local community and I know how much the money means to their work.

“However, I think 30 miles in a day still rates as good going and I’m feeling nothing but pride in myself for getting that far.

“There are so many people to thank; everyone who sponsored me for a start, and particularly to Brentford Football Club, who put up £250, which was massively generous and very humbling.

“Lee Doyle, the Chief Executive of Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, was on board right from the moment I announced I was taking part.

“He sorted out a shirt signed by the Brentford First Team squad, which will now be raffled and the proceeds added to my total.

“The other man I must give special mention to is Mark Devlin, the Club’s Chief Executive, who also jumped straight in at the start.

“He personally authorised the £250 donation and has been a great person to work with over the years I have been on the Chronicle.

“I must also pay tribute to the fantastic managers and staff at Hogarth Health Club, in Chiswick, for allowing me to use their facilities for my training.

“I literally couldn’t have got as far as I did without the support and training they provided.

“I’d love to think I could come back next year and complete the whole course but even if I don’t, I know the Chronicle looks forward to continuing to publicise the Urban Farm.

“We cannot wait for the day when the new-look site is ready to open.”

Alice Purdy was full of praise for Chris’ efforts.

She said: “we all still think he’s amazing, even if he didn’t get the whole way.

“We all want to say thank you so much for sponsoring Chris, the money is going to be incredibly useful to us.”

Chris has raised £405 so far, which has come via his Justgiving website.

There is £250 from Brentford FC and a further £141 gathered using old-fashioned sponsorship forms.

They were also taken to his old school, Cannon Lane Primary, in Harrow.

Chris added: “Many of the staff there still know me and I am overwhelmed by the amount of support they gave.”

Brentford FC will present Chris with a cheque at an upcoming home game.