The death and destruction that swept Japan in March has been somewhat forgotten about following the recent trauma of the riots on our own shores.

But a Norwich man is determined to remind people of Japan's troubles with an ambitious charity event at the end of this month.

Almost 16,000 people died after the north-east coast of Japan was hit by the most powerful earthquake in its history and a subsequent huge tsunami which caused a series of nuclear meltdowns and further problems.

Japan is still recovering and Greg Wilson, 36, who lives off Dereham Road in Norwich, is hoping to raise money for the Red Cross disaster relief efforts in a country he has visited many times as his wife of six years, Keiko, is originally from the Asian country.

He is hoping to raise �1,000 by walking 35 miles along the River Yare from Norwich to Great Yarmouth along the Wherryman's Way path, and back again, in 36 hours of non-stop walking.

He will start walking from 1am on Sunday, August 28 from Whitlingham Country Park, so that he can make the ferry at Reedham both ways, with the aim of being finished by 1pm the following day.

Mr Wilson, a schoolteacher, said: 'I've been to Japan six or seven times and met Keiko's friends, who are now my friends as well, so I want to do something to help.

'And I've always wanted to do something like this.

'It'll be 36 hours pretty much continuous walking, so it is doable, but it is a big challenge and it is as much about the endurance as it is the distance.'

- If you would like to donate to Mr Wilson's cause, go to www.justgiving.com/Greg-Wilson0

- Are you raising money for charity? Call Evening News reporter David Freezer on 01603 772418 or email david.freezer@archant.co.uk