Mr Josey beat his target a week early and so pushed on, targeting 1.2m. steps, including 90,000 on the final day of his challenge on Sunday. Speaking before the 9am start of the Guernsey Mind 10k, Mr Josey, who is raising vital funds for Les Bourgs Hospice, said he had already walked 42,000 steps that morning.

‘I started by walking from my house to the visitor centre by 4am,’ he said. ‘And then it was round the island to the start of the race at the Imperial. I was planning to go right around the cliff paths but it was just too dark and I didn’t want to injure myself before I got here.’

After the 10k he planned to walk back to the 5km marker at L’Eree and back home to La Ramee.

‘And that will be it – until I do the Guernsey half marathon in three weeks’ time.’

Mr Josey’s fundraising target was a fairly modest £500 but at the weekend he reached £2,500.

‘Once it started getting press coverage and with the social media posts I did when I hit one million steps I started to get more and more money coming in.

‘Some of the messages of support I have had from people whose loved ones have been helped by Les Bourgs have left me in tears.’

His own connection with the hospice, which provides compassionate and professional care to islanders affected by life-limiting illnesses, comes through his wife, whose father was treated there.

‘I started finding out more about the work they do and just wanted to help,’ he said. ‘I’ve done the various 30/30 challenges but wanted to “step it up”.’

The incredible achievement has obviously taken a physical strain, not just on his body but on his shoes.

‘The feet are OK, it’s the knees that hurt,’ he said.

‘I’ve had to throw away two pairs of my older trainers, you could see the metal coming through the bottom of them. It nearly brought me to tears saying goodbye to them when they went in the bin.’

However, he added that he had been helped in his challenge by the dry weather.

‘It’s been brilliant. I did the Everest challenge in January [which involves repeatedly walking up La Val des Terres] and got wet every day for 31 days,’ he said.

‘I’ve only got wet on two mornings this month and even that I didn’t mind.’

Mr Josey, commercial manager for Manor Farm Foods, said he took up running in 2019 as a way to lose weight and became addicted to local challenges, especially the various events organised by Les Bourgs.

He added that the Guernsey Mind Investec 10K on the final day was a fitting way to end.

‘Honestly anyone, put down your phone, and go out and get 15 minutes of exercise, even if it’s just walking to work,’ he said. ‘It makes your whole day brighter and better.’

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