THE three day Big Foot charity walk across the Marlborough Downs at the end of August needs a lot more volunteers to take part if the initial £250,000 target is to be anywhere near achieved.

At present 100 people have enrolled to take part in the unique event, the first of its kind in the UK, which is being organised by the Multiple Sclerosis Society. It's hoped that as many as 500 will take up the challenge.

The 50-mile walk starts from Pewsey on August 30 when Devizes MP, Michael Ancram, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, will set the walkers on their way for their first day.

This will involve a 12-mile walk to the Blackland Lakes Camp Site near Calne.

Accommodation will be provided here for all the participants in a tented village.

On day two the walkers will cover a circular 25-mile route around the Marlborough Downs, returning to Calne.

On the final day the 12-mile route takes the participants to the finish line at Avebury.

It is hoped that some of the celebrities who are supporting the event will be there to greet them.

Celebrity supporters include swimmer Stephanie Millward from Bath who was in the Olympic squad when it was discovered she had MS; Olympic gold medal hurdler David Hemery who lives near Marlborough, and the former jockey turned broadcaster and author, Willie Carson.

The organisers can cope with up to 500 walkers who each have to guarantee a minimum of £500 for the MS Society although it hopes that an average £750 will be raised per walker.

The MS Society's promotions co-ordinator Kerry Dyer said she was not at all disappointed with the 100 names entered so far.

She said: "There is plenty of time for more people to enrol."

Ms Dyer said the Bigfoot type of event had been pioneered in the USA.

She added: "The number entered so far is much higher than what the organisers there expected in their pilot year."

Of the walkers who have enrolled so far, said the promoter, about one third are from Wiltshire and another one third from the London area.

Anyone interested in taking part or showing support for the event in any other way is asked to contact the MS Society's Bigfoot registration number 0845 900 8900, by e-mail on bigfoot@mssociety.org.uk or on-line at www.msociety.org.uk/bigfoot.

The organisers say there will be medical assistance and full support throughout the 50 mile route and at the overnight camp site.