AN ARMY Major and devoted father is set to come barefoot through South East Cornwall today and tomorrow as he marches the length of the country for his little girl.

Chris Brannigan has set off on what he describes as his ’third tour of duty’ this week and is determined to raise at lease £400,000 for research into rare genetic diseases.

Chris’ daughter Hasti dreams of becoming a dancer or working as a chef when she grows up.

But the eight year old was diagnosed in 2018 with Cordelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS). Hasti, and other children like her, experience speech, language and hearing problems, limb abnormalities, and face a series of progressively worse physical and mental health challenges as they go into adolescence. The disease is life-limiting and it is rare for children with CdLS to go on lead independent lives.

Chris and his partner Hengameh, Hasti’s mum, have set up a charity, Hope For Hasti, to raise funds for research that they hope will find treatment and hope for CdLS sufferers, and children with other rare genetic diseases.

On Monday, Chris set off to trek from Land’s End to Edinburgh as part of the family’s long-term aim to raise £2.5 million.

He’ll be marching the 600 miles in full army uniform and kit and will be barefoot as he walks. Chris was set to be en route from Fowey to Looe today, and from Looe to Plymouth on Friday.

He’s asking people to share his story using #HopeForHasti, to look out for his vlogs on social media, and to donate by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BarefootAcrossBritain