On Wednesday, 19 August, a dad from Hampton and his 10-year-old son Ellis will begin to walk the entire length of the River Thames, from its source near Kemble in the Cotswolds all the way to the Thames Barrier in London, to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Matthew and Ellis Kent will cover around 185 miles, walking the route in one continuous journey and aiming to reach the Thames Barrier by 4 September.

If he completes the challenge, Ellis will become the youngest person ever to walk the entire length of the Thames in one go.

The pair are hoping to raise £50,000 for Cancer Research UK, and the challenge has a very personal reason behind it, as the father and son are walking the route in memory of Ellis's granny, Barbara Sutherland, who died from pancreatic cancer three years ago.

Alongside the fundraising, I want the walk to be a real father-and-son adventure," Matthew said.

"We'll be carrying much of what we need, camping beside the river on a number of nights and using the journey as an opportunity for Ellis to learn everything from navigation and map reading to camping, fishing and looking after himself during a long-distance expedition.

"We're also trying to arrange a few memorable experiences and surprises along the route to keep a 10-year-old motivated through nearly 200 miles of walking!"

The pair should make it to Teddington on 1 September.

Their full route is as follows:

• 19 August – Thames Source to Cricklade
• 20 August – Cricklade to Lechlade
• 21 August – Lechlade to Newbridge
• 22 August – Newbridge to Oxford
• 23 – 24 August – Oxford / Abingdon area to Benson
• 25 – 26 August – Benson to Beale Park
• 27 August – Beale / Pangbourne to Sonning
• 28 – 29 August – Sonning to Maidenhead, via Henley and Hurley
• 30 August – Maidenhead to Staines
• 31 August – Staines to Walton-on-Thames
• 1 September – Walton-on-Thames to Teddington
• 2 September – Teddington to central London
• 3 – 4 September – Central London to the Thames Barrier

Speaking about Ellis joining him on this challenge, Matthew told Nub News: "I'm incredibly proud of Ellis. Walking the entire length of the Thames is a huge challenge for anyone, let alone a 10-year-old, and I think it's going to test both of us at times.

"What means the most to me is that he's taken on something this big to help raise money for Cancer Research UK.

He continued: "What has already been quite overwhelming is the generosity we've encountered before we've even started.

Cricket clubs along the route have offered us places to stay, pubs have opened their doors to us and helped with accommodation, and people and businesses we've never met have gone out of their way to support the challenge.

"Virgin Balloons have even given us a hot-air balloon flight for when we reach Oxford, which should be an incredible reward for Ellis after the first few days of walking.

"That kindness has become a really lovely part of the whole challenge. Every donation, message of encouragement, meal, bed or unexpected gesture gives Ellis another little boost and reminds him why we're doing it."

Matthew and Ellis have already raised more than £5,500, and Matthew said they are "hoping the walk will help us push that much further towards our £50,000 target".

You can donate to Matthew and Ellis' challenge here.