A teenage Viking reenactor is on track to arrive in York following a gruelling 130-mile trek from Chester in memory of his former teacher.

Ryan Olsen, a member of Chester-based reenactment groups Unknown Vikings of Chester and Hearth of the Valkyrie, began the gruelling challenge on Saturday 18 July.

The 16-year-old is raising funds in memory of Hannah Freeman, a history teacher at Whitby High School and fellow Viking reenactor, who died in September last year after battling cancer.

Ryan set off from Whitby High School before heading into Chester to begin the 100-mile-plus route. He is completing the journey entirely on foot, whilst carrying Viking equipment, including a shield and wearing period clothing.

Ryan set himself a target of reaching York within 12 days of starting his trek, passing through Delamere, Wilmslow, Marple, Glossop, Penistone, Barnsley, Pontefract, Leeds and Tadcaster before finally arriving in York on Wednesday 29 July.

Ryan is due to be greeted by family, friends and supporters as he arrives in York, where they will a gather at popular city centre bar Valhalla which has given Ryan the use of its Long Gallery, All Father Hall for his celebrations.

To prepare for the challenge, Ryan completed increasingly demanding training walks, including a 23-mile route from Waverton to Moel Famau in North Wales, which he completed in 12 hours.

"I wanted to do something that would make a real difference," Ryan said. "Miss Freeman meant a lot to me, and this felt like a way I could honour her memory while helping other families facing blood cancer.

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"Miss Freeman was the kind of teacher who believed in everyone, even when we didn't believe in ourselves."

Ryan said that after Miss Freeman was diagnosed with cancer, she entrusted him and his friends with a Dungeons & Dragons worldbuilding project she had spent more than a decade developing.

"I wanted to do something to honour that gift," he said.

Ryan's fundraising will support Anthony Nolan, helping the charity match stem cell donors with people in need of potentially lifesaving transplants while funding research to improve transplant outcomes.

The teenager hopes the challenge will not only raise money for Anthony Nolan, but also encourage more people to support the charity and consider joining the stem cell donor register.

People wishing to support Ryan's fundraising challenge for Anthony Nolan can donate via his fundraising page.here.