A WOMAN is walking hundreds of miles in memory of her husband, who battled Motor Neurone Disease.

Heddon-on-the-Wall resident Mike Furlonger was diagnosed with MND in 2016, and died two years later. He battled the disease with great courage and humour, and took an active role in many events which raised awareness for the disease and money for the Motor Neuron Disease Association.

June usually sees the MND Association's official Walk to d'feet MND, but this years event was cancelled due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Mike's widow, Rose, decided to organise another fund-raising event to take its place.

She asked people to sponsor her walking six miles - the distance of the usual event. The miles have mounted up - and Rose has now completed 180 miles of walking - with friends and others volunteering to join her for short, socially distanced stretches.

Mike and Rose’s daughter, Pippa, and their grandson, Jack, are also doing a similar sponsored walk in the countryside near their home in Cumbria, and her son, Rupert, has walked many miles with Rose since July.

Rose said: "Sponsors have been very generous, so I hope a good sum will be raised for the Motor Neuron Disease Association.

"There are plenty of friends who are still keen to walk to raise money for this very deserving cause, and also in memory of Mike, who we all miss so much.

"I realise it's highly likely I'll end up walking at least 200 miles!"

Unfortunately, due to current restrictions, Rose has had to stop walking with friends for the time being.

As a solution, she has ordered a stock of MND t-shirts and is now sending them to friends yet to participate - including some overseas.

They will then take pictures of themselves walking for MND for Rose to add to the gallery of supporters on Facebook.