An Exmouth woman is celebrating after completing a walking challenge on the Isle of Wight.

Val Toomey, 64, walked the Isle of Wight Coastal Path and has raised more than £800 for cancer charity Bloodwise.

Val said she was glad to have finally conquered the Isle of Wight, after having to pull out of the same walk two years ago.

The grandmother revealed how she came to take up walking.

Val, of Douglas Avenue, said: “All of this started in 2013 when I did Nordic walking with my daughter Helen, from London to Henley. Helen told me she wanted to do this to raise money in memory of her father, Peter Brookes, who died from lymphoma.

“The Isle of Wight was my fifth walk and my daughter and I between us have raised around £6,000. I don’t think I’ll do another walk, but we shall see.

“I’d like to thank everyone who donated. I’m hoping to get to around £1,000.

“I attempted to walk the Isle of Wight two years ago with friends who were forced to drop out, and I cancelled the walk as common sense told me not to walk on a cliff edge on my own at night.

“Cancer affects everyone regardless of age, gender or ethnicity.

“I think what I’ve been through pales in comparison to with what people with blood cancer go through.”

Bloodwise is the UK’s biggest blood cancer charity.

There are around 960 cases of cancer diagnosed in the UK every day. If you would like to donate to Val’s campaign, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Val-Toomey2?.

For more information about Bloodwise, visit https://bloodwise.org.uk/about-us.