Family and friends of a woman diagnosed with breast cancer have stepped up to raise £6,500 for charity.

The group has walked the equivalent of 750 miles – from Whitehaven to London and back – to support Lorraine Kirkbride who, following surgery, discovered her cancer had also spread to her lungs, leaving her breathless.

Lorraine, of Whitehaven, 46, had planned to take part in the “Walk All Over Cancer'' campaign with a team.

They were each set to do 10,000 steps a day in September, to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

But she said: “We have all been knocked sideways by the news that the cancer has spread.

"I was also so disappointed that the challenge of walking 10,000 steps a day I had set myself was just not going to be possible.

"The idea of raising money to help fund research to fight this disease had really kept me going leading up to and after the operation.”

But the challenge did not end there.

Fundraising teammates Louise Barkes, Kevin Lambert, Caroline McDonald and Irene McMillan, as well as friends and family, committed to a rota to walk Lorraine’s 10,000 steps for her.

Every day 'The Proxy Steppers' shared their steps for Lorraine to see on Facebook and donations came pouring in.

Lorraine said: “I can’t believe how amazing all my friends and family have been.

"It has been a real boost to get the messages each day.

"People have done their steps in really torrential rain, they’ve taken extra steps, and one even did their steps during their honeymoon.

"Every step taken has cheered me on in my own challenge with cancer.''

And she added: "The radiotherapy treatment I have just completed has eased my breathing.

"But I’m pretty sure all those well wishes have helped me too, staying positive is a big part of fighting back.”

If you would like to donate to Lorraine’s Fundraising to Walk all over Cancer, go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Lorraine-Kirkbride

Alternatively, you can text LOLK50 and the amount you would like to donate to: 70070.