THIRTY years of multiple sclerosis have left Stuart Nixon unable to walk more than 20 metres at a time, with the support of a stick and another person.

But next month the 49-year-old NHS manager from Newport embarks on an extraordinary challenge - to walk 60 kilometres to raise £60,000 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, to mark the charity’s 60th anniversary.

Society trustee Mr Nixon will use a specially built walking frame to cover the daunting distance along London’s Jubilee Greenway from Buckingham Palace to the Olympic Stadium and back, beginning on Saturday October 5. He aims to complete his Stu Steps Up challenge on Sunday October 13.

“I thought someone needed to do something extraordinary to mark the society’s 60th year,” said Mr Nixon.

“I had an epiphany, and woke my wife up at 3am one morning. I told her I wanted to walk 60 miles, she told me not to be stupid. We negotiated over breakfast to 60km.”

The measure of the task can be gauged by the fact that for 15 years Mr Nixon has largely been wheelchair-bound.

He has mobility only in one leg, but a link-up with design students at Northumbria University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne has seen them build a bespoke walking frame to support his immobile leg on a kind of skateboard while his ‘good’ leg propels him along.

He picked up the first version only last month, and suddenly the whole enterprise became very real.

“I’ve talked about it for nearly a year, up until now it’s been a plan. It was exciting, exhilarating and scary all in one go,” said Mr Nixon.

The walking frame was dubbed Sexy Suzie by Mr Nixon’s wife Marie, but he says “there’s nothing particularly sexy about it at the moment.” He is using this first model for training while a modified version is prepared for the walk.

Training takes place at St Cadoc’s Hospital, Caerleon, with permission from Aneurin Bevan Health Board, for whom Mr Nixon works.

He has been preparing himself for several months, and now he has the frame, things are progressing to the point where he can go for a quarter of a mile at a time.

“When I started I could move her about 50 metres, so we’re getting there. It will be slow, steady and not pretty,” he said.

“The positive bit of me says I will make this work, between me and Marie. This is a partnership, without her none of this would be possible.”

Sons Sean and Killian are also supporting their dad, making it a real family effort.

“This sort of support makes my life do-able. I can get out and live a strong, positive life with MS and a lot of people out there do not have that,” said Mr Nixon, who describes his condition as being “a gradual deterioration.”

Mr Nixon hopes a mixture of corporate and individual sponsorship will help him raise £60,000.

A link-up with Arora Hotels will he hopes raise toward half the money, while more than £4,300 has already been pledged at www.justgiving.com/stustepsup

“Some of the messages people have left just make you weep. It makes me think ‘I have to do this’,” said Mr Nixon.

The final day of the challenge involves two MS Society walks in London, and it is hoped that many participants will finish with Mr Nixon outside Buckingham Palace, at around 5pm.

For more information on multiple sclerosis and the walks, visit www.mssociety.org.uk where there is also a Stu Steps Up video, telling Mr Nixon's story.

Donations to the Stu Steps Up challenge can also be made by texting SNMS60 to 70070.