Long way up for charity pair

A couple are walking from Land's End to John O' Groats to raise money for a charity dedicated to helping provide better care for cancer victims.

Mick Blackburn and wife Gayle Faulkner were left devastated after cancer claimed the lives of Gayle's parents, who lived in Tettenhall Wood. Her father Bob died in 2004 followed by her mother Brenda in January at the ages of 59 and 61 respectively.

Mick, aged 53, said their loss had inspired them to organise the walk to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

"We decided that life was just too short to waste and we've both given up our jobs," he said. "Gayle gave up hers at Rolls Royce in Derby and I used to work in management for an electrics firm. We are estimating the walk will take three months to complete. We'll be sleeping in a bed and breakfast one day a week and in our tents the rest of the time.

"We'll both be carrying around 10 kilos on our backs too. It'll be hard work but well worth it."

The pair, who live just outside Burton, have raised more than £1,400 so far and want to reach £2,000 before the trip. To donate log on to www.justgiving. com/walkingbritain. John O'Groats is 874 miles from Land's End.