James Lewis has arrived home in Rugeley after dribbling a football from Africa to raise money for charity. He started the Africa to Rugeley Football Run challenge in Marrakesh, Morocco, in May and finished at The Chase pub on Saturday at around 18:00 BST.
Lewis has raised more than £65,000 for St Giles Hospice, which cared for his father during his final days. He completed the journey in more than 80 days, having walked nearly 2,000 miles from Dover.
Why the hospice matters
Lewis said St Giles Hospice made his father's last days "a lot easier" thanks to their care. "The environment my dad spent his final days in was made that much more special and I'm hoping to raise as much as I can so the hospice can continue to care for people," he said.
Journey challenges
Lewis travelled through Coventry on Friday before arriving in Rugeley. During the challenge, he dealt with practical difficulties including punctured footballs, which friends replaced for him. He also spent two nights sleeping on the roadside.
After almost 15 weeks on the road, Lewis said the one thing he was looking forward to most was a haircut.
What he learned
Lewis reflected on the experience by saying he had learnt to "follow the ball" instead of "trying to control the ball". He explained that trying to control it the whole way would have wasted energy and made the challenge harder.
This is not his first endurance challenge. His previous efforts have included running blindfolded for 24 hours and running from Paris to Rugeley.
A spokesperson for St Giles Hospice said Lewis' challenge meant "an awful lot" to the charity, adding that he is their biggest individual fundraiser.
