When Kevin O'Reilly's best friend was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer just before the pandemic, he knew that he wanted to do something to raise vital funds in Liam's name.
Feeling "helpless" due to Covid restrictions keeping them apart, the East Belfast man decided to channel his energy into helping the charities that have supported his friend during his cancer journey.
Kevin will make a 360-mile solo walk from the top of Donegal to the bottom of Cork on March 21.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, he said: "We've been friends since we've been about five years old and in August 2019, he got the devastating news that he has terminal brain cancer.
"It was quite advanced and he wasn't expecting to see Christmas that year so it was a really horrible time as you can imagine - he lives down in Kildare and I was trying to go down as often as I could but then Covid hit.
"I wasn't able to travel down due to the restrictions and everyone was struggling with it. I was doing lots of walking and trying to think of some way I could help and put my energy into something else."
Already a keen walker, his lockdown walks "planted a seed" in his head that he could use his passion to make a difference and honour Liam and his "positive outlook".
"When your mind is preoccupied with doom and gloom with everything that was going on, it was something to focus on and gave me a purpose that I was raising money," he said.
"I started training and walking on average 15 miles a day and eventually pumped that up to about 20 miles and then once a month, I was doing 38 to 40 miles as a way of building myself up for it.
"Liam continues to do well - he's seen Christmas and the following Christmas and is doing remarkably well and has been a massive support to me so I've been challenging all my energy into it."
His walk will take a total of 16 days to complete and is self-funded with Kevin doing on average 26 to 33 miles a day.
After hearing Kevin's story, hotelier Joe Mahon reached out to offer a night's accommodation in his hotel in Ivrinestown in Fermanagh on his walking journey.
He added: "There are a few big walks back to back and then there is a rest day where it is only a 12-mile walk and I'm as ready as I can be for it now so it's just a case of getting on my way."
Kevin has raised over half of his £3,000 fundraising goal with all the money going to Marie Curie Cancer Care.
As well as his online efforts, he has raised nearly £400 through his collection jar located at Exotic Aquatics Belfast where he works part-time.
"With everything that is going on in the world, it's just such a horrible place at the moment and it's important just to do something good."
To donate to Kevin's fundraiser, see here.
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