A family are set to embark on the national Three Peaks hike in the space of 24 hours this Coronation weekend, raising money for a cause close to their heart.
Kelly Jones, joined by five other family members, will be scaling the 1,345m peak of Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands, Scafell Pike in the Lake District and Mount Snowdon in North Wales - totalling a combined distance of 26 miles.
The family's efforts are in aid of Ashton's Willow Wood Hospice, which provides specialist palliative care for patients with life limiting illnesses.
The charity delivered lots of support for Louisa Roe, Kelly's mum, when she was diagnosed with vascular dementia.
Louisa passed away last year and the family's long weekend challenge, starting yesterday (Friday), will mark the poignant one year anniversary of her death, which is why the family have chosen their challenge for this weekend.
The group had initially aimed to raise £500 before their walk, however their JustGiving page has already received pledges totalling more than £1,000.
Kelly said that as the whole had a big involvement in looking after Louisa, they wanted something to focus on after they lost her and wanted to find a way of giving back to the hospice.
The mother-of-three described the hospice as a 'godsend', adding: "On the run up before my mum passed away, we had a lot of dementia support from them to just point us in the right direction.
"They helped us with any GP problems, medication issues - just little things that you face when you've got someone who's ill. It's just having that support; it means a lot.
"Anyone who has had experience with Willow Wood will agree with me massively. And now because we've had that connection with the charity we can go there anytime, even just to walk around the gardens or speak to the staff. It's a lovely place."
Kelly said that prior to Louisa's dementia, she was 'fun-loving' and would probably have tried to do the walk with them.
She added: "She enjoyed life, she loved her grandchildren. Unfortunately when she got her dementia, it took away many aspects of her personality and I think that's what we missed the most.
"She enjoyed walking and she'd walk into Ashton, do her shopping and then walk home - she was massively into looking after herself and her health.
"She also enjoyed doing Tai Chi, and would do the classes at home if she wasn't able to attend in person. She was just life and soul."
Joining Kelly will be her brother-in-law, her niece and nephew and her niece's partner, with her husband and his best friend driving the group in between walks.
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