A FORMER drug addict who is wanting to show others they too can turn their lives around with the right support camped out in Barnsley as part of his training for a 1,000-mile walk later this year.

Karl Harrison, from St Helen’s, is currently training to walk from Czech Republic back to England in a bid to raise funds for MindMatters and drug awareness.

Ahead of that challenge, he is currently walking coast-to-coast to train and he stopped off in Barnsley this week - a place dear to his heart because of the film Kes.

He managed to see the statue and even went to the Kes chippy in Hoyland Common.

He told the Chronicle: “I was a crack cocaine addict myself and I realised that there’s more to life than drugs and sitting around being a waste of space.

“I just want to try and make children aware of what the consequences are of taking substances,and the effects that it has on not just themselves, but everyone else - the families, the friends.

“Even if I can help change one person’s life then I’ve done my best in my life.

“I’m willing to walk to show people that no matter where you come from you can achieve things in life.”

As part of the coast-to-coast he slept in a tent in former councillor Sherry Holling’s garden and managed to see some of the landmarks that reminded him of his youth.

“I do like wild camping,” he said.

“When I was younger my dad made me watch Kes and I love the accents and the people.

“I’ve never actually been to Barnsley but when I saw the statue of Kes I was like a kid in a sweet shop.

“I was so overwhelmed.”