JUST 39 days after taking on the most gruelling expedition of his life, retired RAF mountaineer Al Sylvester has completed the solo 900-mile trek to Scotland, raising a remarkable £23,000 in aid of the 160 Appeal in the process.

The 49-year-old reached John O’Groats at 2.30pm on Tuesday, nearly a month and a half after leaving Land’s End on August 16.

Al embarked on the Walk to Freedom in memory of his friend Dean Singleton, who passed away at Prospect Hospice in June 2011 at the age of 43, after battling lymphoma for a decade as well as liver cancer.

Despite tackling more than 15 expeditions around the world over the years, including the RAF’s first ever 677-mile unsupported attempt to reach the Geographic South Pole, an experience which saw him lose his thumbs to frostbite in the minus 35-degree conditions, the solo trek proved his most taxing feat of endurance.

“I’m absolutely exhausted,” he said. “I’m relieved it’s over. Dean would be like ‘What are you doing that for?’ “It was 39 days of relentless walking. I did over 22 miles a day with 42 pounds on my back unsupported.

“I’ve been on expedition before but never like this. When I was in the South Pole I had a team of four but with this you are fighting your own challenge. The pain in my feet has been relentless.

“But it has been phenomenal. The weather was horrific for the first four days but on the fifth day, which was my birthday, the rain stopped and I had fantastic weather for the rest of it.

“The highlight was having over 120 people visit me along the route, during my breaks.

“My friends and family have been amazing. I was the most supported unsupported walker. And Dean’s widow Linzi coordinated everything behind the scenes and on Twitter and Facebook.

“It has been incredibly emotional at times – but I have absolutely no regret.”

Among the friends and family who surprised him on brief visits along the 900-mile route was Prospect chief executive Angel Jordan herself, who travelled the length of the country just to congratulate him on his final stretch to John O’Groats.

The scale of his latest physical challenge inspired many to sponsor him and within weeks Al had to revise his £5,000 target upwards.

He has now collected £23,024. More than £6,000 of which was donated after his departure for Scotland.

“The original target was £5,000,” he added.”Before I started I had raised £15,500 and now it’s at £23,024. That’s 338 people who donated for the cause. People have come in with some exceptional amounts.”

Al and Dean met in 1992 in Stafford, where they were both part of the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue.

“Dean and I covered lots of big rescues,” said Al. “We put our lives on the line together.

“I never realised that hospices were not paid for by the national health service before I went up to Prospect to see Dean. I wanted to raise money for Prospect and the profile of hospices in the UK.

“The way he was looked after by Prospect was phenomenal. The service and attention to detail, the love and compassion not just for Dean but all his family was fantastic.

“They let him die with dignity. These people are absolute heroes. I hope this wee walk has opened people’s eyes to the work hospices do.”

To sponsor Al go to virginmoneygiving.com/AlSylvester