BURSTING blood blisters and abuse from car drivers were just a couple of the trials and tribulations facing two skateboarders on a long-distance charity mission.

Gavyn McKenzie, 24, from Old Dover Road, Canterbury, and Mark Burch, 27, from St Peter's Lane in the city, set out to skateboard from Brighton to Canterbury on September 4 to raise money for The Alzheimer's Society. But instead of taking the shortest route possible, the boarders gave themselves the challenge of following the Sussex and Kent coast via Folkestone and Whitstable before cutting inland to Canterbury, a trip of more than 150 miles.

The two web designers, who met while studying at the University of Kent, took four days to complete the journey, averaging 10 hours and 40 miles a day.

Gav said: "It was pretty hard going. At the end of the second day just 200m before reaching our daily target a large blood blister exploded on my foot, sending shooting pains up my leg. That was a real low point and, for the rest of the journey, it was really painful and I had to push off with my wrong leg.

"The high point came after we had this epic push up a long hill outside Folkestone which was a real struggle. We reached the top to see a beautiful seven-mile downhill stretch to Dover. It was a godsend."

The skateboarding fanatics' feat has so far succeeded in raising £1300 for the charity.

Gav said: "We chose Alzheimer's because members of my family on both sides have the condition including my grandma, great-aunt and great-uncle and my grandfather has told me the charity really helps to support carers as well as those with Alzheimer's."

For more information visit www.justgiving.com/WrongWayHome/ or www.alzheimers.org.uk.