For some people completing the Keswick to Barrow once is enough.

For others they will come back two or three times to try and improve their performance. Then there are people like Mike Turnough.

Mike will this year join an elite band of walkers as he will complete his 20th walk. He stumbled into the event by accident though in 1986, when, aged just 14, he stood in for his friend’s brother who dropped out last minute.

It wasn’t a case of love at first sight. The following 18 years saw him complete the event just three times.

But things changed in 2005 when Mike was “coerced” into the BAE Systems Engineering Team (Dreadnaught) who have the added incentive of competing for the Resolution Cup, a trophy awarded to the team with the best performance from ships of the Royal Navy built at Barrow and Barrow Shipyard Teams.

“It’s the same faces that come back year after year now, most of the team have completed it 15 plus times, I guess it has become more of a ritual than anything else," he said.

Although the Resolution Cup does add a sense of competitiveness to Mike’s Keswick to Barrow adventures he, like the majority of people that undertake the walk, understands the real reason for taking part is for the huge sums of money that are raised every year for worthwhile charities and causes.

He said: “I have raised at least £3,000 myself over the years for our charities, something I am immensely proud of and this year I had the honour of attending the presentation evening as we had managed to win the Resolution Cup for the third time. To have the opportunity to see and hear what a difference all our efforts make to the charities who benefit is both humbling and rewarding and it should never be under estimated what an effect the event has on so many people”

Mike offered advice to anyone taking part in this year's event.

“Never make last minute changes to footwear," he said.

"It's not a fashion show and too many people turn up in brand new trainers. You should train in the shoes you will wear on the day and don’t carry too much. There is no need to if you have a good support crew and the K2B provide excellent support on course."