A GROUP of family members completed an unenviable 22-mile walk to raise money for a disease that has affected all four of them.
Jo Arnold, 44, took on the gruelling challenge along with her daughter Jessica, and her two sisters-in-law, Tracey Wilkinson, 42, and Rachael Norton, 30.
Together, they undertook the walk to raise money for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.
Jo lost her mum, and Jessica's grandmother, Sylvia Lowther to the illness in December 2012 at the age of 70.
Then Tracey and Rachael lost their much-loved aunt Pam Syer in March last year.
Jo said: "We were all a bit nervous. But we have been planning it for quite some time and have been looking forward to getting on with it to test ourselves.
"The walk went very well, but it took us longer than predicted due to the rough terrain.
"We managed the first stage from Barton to Barnetby, which was 14 miles, in six hours.
"We stopped in Barnetby for lunch before setting off again for the final eight miles, which took us three-and-a-half hours, finally arriving in Caistor at 7.15pm.
Each year around 8,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
It is the fifth most common cause of cancer death, causing five per cent of them each year, yet the five-year survival rate is still only three per cent, and it is the only cancer not to have shown any improvement in the last 40 years.
The 22-mile walk followed the route of the Viking Way from Barton to Caistor.
Jo added: "We all feel that by doing this we can raise awareness as well as funds.
"More money means that more research is possible and people diagnosed in the future will have a better chance of survival and fewer loved ones will be lost."
They have so far raised £1,105 for Pancreatic Cancer Research. To donate to their cause, visit the fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/VikingWay35K.
Alternatively, text VIKG97 and the amount you would like to donate to 70070.
For more information about the Pancreatic Cancer Fund, visit www.pcrf.org.uk.
ON THE WEB: To see what else people are doing to raise funds locally, head to www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/charities
