Man walks 90 miles in memory of Thatcham woman

East Ilsley man nears the end of his walk on Britain's oldest road to raise funds for Cancer Care Trust

A 51-YEAR-OLD East Isley man is nearing the end of his 90-mile walk in memory of a friend of more than 30 years who lost her life to cancer recently.

Mark Richardson, who lives with his wife, Kim, and son, Alex, in East Isley set off on Monday (June 6) to walk Britain's oldest road, The Ridgeway.

The 51-year-old is taking on the challenge in memory of his friend Karen Prater, a Thatcham woman who recently died of cancer, and is hoping to complete the trail in five or six days.

Mr Richardson will be raising funds for the Newbury Cancer Care Trust who looked after Mrs Prater at the Rainbow Rooms Hospice at the West Berkshire Hospital.

He said: “Having successfully fought cancer for three years it came back. The speed of the disease shocked me.

“This is the first time I've got off my backside and raised money for charity myself.”

Mrs Prater is survived by her husband Jamie, and two daughters, Lauren and Rowanne, who in April cycled from 130km Bristol to Newbury to raise money for Cancer Research.

Santander will double Mr Richardson's total, which currently stands at over £1,685, if he raises £2,500.

To sponsor him visit www.justgiving.com/Mark-Richardson6