Liverpool Unites, the official charity of the Liverpool ECHO and Daily Post, has a new fundraising target of raising £500,000 for Alder Hey Children's Hospital. All money raised will be used to build the play areas in the New Children's Health Park which is due to be completed in 2014.

Play is a really important component of children's healthcare. Not only is it an indicator of how a child might be responding to treatment, it is a useful distraction therapy tool and it is often used to help children come to terms with a difficult diagnosis. Liverpool Unites is now dedicated to fundraising for this very important cause.

Liverpool Unites symbolises how the city can come together to help those in need, and the charity is now ready to take on a new challenge that will help children across the whole region. It will dedicate its fundraising efforts over the coming years, until the target is reached, to raise money for these essential facilities at Alder Hey.

Ray Hughes is preparing to undergo the 'challenge of his life' for Liverpool Unites. He plans to walk a blistering 1,200 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats in three months. The retired grandad-of-two from Crosby hopes to walk at an average pace of 16 miles a day starting next month. Ray vowed to take the trip after he was inspired by seeing the famous signpost in Cornwall while on holiday 20 years ago.

He said: 'My kids think I'm nuts but it is something I've always wanted to do. It's always been at the back of my mind.' The former Formby Hall Golf Resort executive said: 'I'm looking forward to the West Highland Way the most, it will be tough but I've never been anywhere like it.'

Starting on 2 April 2011, Ray will take the Western route south to north, making his way along Offa's Dyke along the Welsh-English border, crossing the Cumbrian Fells, and then hiking through the Highlands towards Inverness. Although he will be attempting the journey solo, he said he could not do it without his 'long-suffering wife', Anne Marie, who is his designated support driver.

This will be the seventh charity walk the seasoned fundraiser will have attempted. He has raised substantial funds for worthy Merseyside causes in the past. Last year, he walked 265 miles along the Pennine Way and raised more than £5,000 for the Liverpool Women's Hospital. But he admits this Liverpool Unites walk will be the most difficult one yet - and one of the reasons he opted for early retirement in July last year. The self-funded trip will cost an estimated £5,000 and all proceeds will be donated to Liverpool Unites.

The dad-of-three said he was overwhelmed by support and generosity of all those who have donated. And he said he was thrilled to be helping Alder Hey after Unites announced a fundraising target of £500,000 for the children's hospital. So far he has raised £1,500, but aims to reach his target of £10,000.

To sponsor Ray log on to www.sponsor-me.org/rayswalkfromendtoend and keep up to date with Ray while he is on his walk by visiting his blog

Actress Phina Oruche came to visit patients in Alder Hey, Phina is running the Liverpool Marathon  this year and representing Liverpool Unites for Alder Hey Imagine Appeal.