A WIDOW is set to walk nearly 200 miles to raise funds for the Winchester Hospice Appeal.

Lynne Whitaker began her trip from Cumbria to North Yorkshire on April 10 in memory of her late husband, Michael Cox, who died in 2014 from cancer, aged 62.

The 60 year-old, who is travelling alone, hopes to complete the 188-mile journey in 13 days, and will stay overnight in bed and breakfasts along the way.

She said: “There is currently no hospice in Winchester, and when Michael was ill we had to travel all the way to Basingstoke to access palliative care.

“Hospices can make a huge difference to patients and their families at a difficult time, and this new facility in the city will make a huge difference to the local community.”

Lynne’s fundraising campaign has already raised around £6,000, with more than 110 people donating to her online JustGiving page.

To make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/Lynne-Whitaker2. The appeal aims to raise over £3 million to convert Burrell House.