A window cleaner has been inspired to raise £25,000 for the NHS by walking from Canterbury Cathedral to the Vatican - after doctors saved his son’s life.

Colin Epton, 55, will follow in the footsteps of Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury, the first person to complete the gruelling pilgrimage in 990AD.

Friend and fellow window cleaner Mark Lancaster, 54, will join him on the 1,240-mile Via Francigena trail.

Mr Epton said although the pilgrimage is not a religious undertaking, he thinks “the NHS is the nearest thing the country has to a national religion”.

“We would like to raise as much money as possible for our amazing NHS as a tiny thank you to the incredible people that dedicate their lives to saving ours,” he added.

Mr Epton’s son was rushed to intensive care in 2016 and placed on a life support machine as his organs shut down - at the age of just 22.

For two weeks, his family waited to see if he would pull through.

Thanks to the care of doctors and nurses, he not only survived but after a further four weeks on dialysis he began the slow twoyear process to full recovery.

Mr Epton added: “Me and my old friend, Mark, initially wanted to raise money for the amazing underpaid and overworked staff who - after long night shifts - would sit and talk with me in their own time.

“Everyone was deeply moved by them.

“But as you are not allowed to give money directly to the staff we decided to raise money for NHS intensive care units.”

Incumbent Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield is hoping to walk with the self-dubbed “Men of the Cloth” from Whitstable on the start of their journey on April 20 next year.

Mr Epton said his customers have been “very generous” with their donations to Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals charitable funds.

Their fundraising page has so far seen £1,212 in donations.

If you would like to donate, click here.

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