A FATHER-of-two who has battled life-changing depression is starting a new journey which he hopes will raise up to £50,000 for the charity he is starting.

John Dennis, of Bishop’s Waltham, is training for a solo expedition to Antartica - something he has already spent nearly a year preparing for.

The expedition and charity share a name, Dare 2 Express, and the goal to help people rebuild their lives after mental illness.

The original plan was to take the trek last December but that was pushed back after problems with funding.

However local support keeps flooding in and Mr Dennis, who recently turned 40, says he is overwhelmed at people’s reactions.

“It has been unbelievable, it really blew me away and humbled me because I didn’t know I had that support locally,” he said.

He is talking about a quiz which will be held in February. The 250 tickets sold out in 48 hours and demand is so high Mr Dennis plans to host another two fundraisers throughout the year, leading up to the expedition this December.

On January 30 he is travelling to Norway for two weeks to learn about personal safety on ice and how to layer up for the cold.

He will return there for a month on March 21 for a full-scale expedition, two weeks of which he will be alone in preparation for the December trip.

Mr Dennis has also been approached by Nottingham Trent University, who have agreed to create a nutrition plan for the expedition and coach him with fitness.

Volunteers are needed to help with the expedition. For more information go to expedition-d2e.org.