Company boss Shaun Hearn, who last week became chairman of Dorchester Football Club, has been taking time out for a fundraising 50-mile coastal trek.

Shaun, managing director of the Hearn Group, based in Dorchester, set out on the coast path in a group of five to walk from Durdle Door to West Bay. The walk raised money for the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust and for Diabetes Dorchester.

The Hearn Group is a consistent supporter of Weldmar, regularly organising fundraising events.

Shaun said: “My mum was in the Joseph Weld Hospice in Dorchester before she passed away, so our family witnessed first-hand the marvellous care that they provide, and I know how important it is.”

Three of Shaun’s Hearn Group colleagues accompanied him on the walk - Malcolm Pitcher, business development manager, Tony Clarke, head of Inspired Home Improvements, and Simon Guy of Hearn Roofing. Suppliers and business partners of the Hearn Group, as well as customers and friends, have signed up to contribute sponsorship.

The fifth member of the group was Dorchester trader Andrew Roe, who runs the Fair Price shop in Durngate Street. The fundraising walk was his idea.

Said Andrew : “I lost my dad to diabetes. Then I discovered I had it as well. Many people who have it don’t even realise; it can develop over years, causing a lot of different problems throughout your body.

“For me the walk was dedicated to my dad. I hope to raise a little bit more awareness of the problem, and the money raised will be given to the local diabetes clinic.”

The walk took the best part of two days, and the group finished it in style – going on about five miles further than they had originally planned. Malcolm Pitcher said: “We were planning to finish at West Bay, but we were all feeling so good we carried on to Seatown.

“We’ve all got blisters on blisters, but it was a cracking walk.”

Said Andrew Roe: “We’ve started thinking about next year’s walk, and we are hoping that the whole thing will grow each year. We already know we’ll have a lot more people on the next one.”