AN ENDURANCE fundraiser has passed through Cumbria as a step on her nationwide journey and was helped on her way by a Solway town.

Karen Penny, from South Wales, is currently walking the entire coast of the UK and Ireland to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

The journey will be about 20,000 miles, and will take her an estimated three years to complete.

The fundraiser entered Cumbria on August 7, leaving on August 18 walking from Grange-over Sands, to Ulverston and on to Millom, Ravenglass, St Bees, Workington, Silloth, Bowness-on-Solway and Carlisle.

Since setting off in January she has already covered 3,500 miles and raised £40,500.

Karen has been blown away by the amount of support she has received along the way.

She said: “Oh Cumbria, I just love it. It was such a wrench to leave.

“The welcome I got was overwhelming. Silloth Rotary Club pulled out all the stops.

“They organised for me to have a hamper from the Fairydust Emporium and people came out and walked with me.

“Cumbria was an area that had people I would have never met.

“Seven months ago when I set off with my tent on my back, I camped for about two weeks and I didn’t have a thought on earth that people would take me into their home.

“I cannot wait to finish my walk to go back to Cumbria.”

Karen is raising money for Alzheimer’s Research UK – the UK’s leading dementia research charity – after losing both of her in-laws to different forms of dementia. Her fundraising target is £100,000.