A woman is preparing to tour the UK to walk up every pier in the country - to raise money for charity.

May Hamilton, 63, from Southend, who suffers from fibro-myalgia and hyper-mobility, will walk up the 54 pleasure piers in the UK with her 68-year-old husband, Kenneth.

Piers to fundraising - May and Ken Hamilton will begin and end their epic challenge on Southend Pier Picture: MIKE NEVILLE

The trip, which will rack up thousands of miles, is planned to take 15 days and will raise cash for the British Lung Foundation. Southend Pier, being the longest in the country, will be the start and finish point for the epic pier-athon in September.

Mrs Hamilton said: "I got the idea after I heard about an elderly lady who cycled to raise cash for charity. I thought I may not be able to cycle, but I could walk, so I thought up this event. I just wanted to get involved in doing something positive."

Mr Hamilton has emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which means he cannot walk far, but his determined wife will push him up the longer piers in his wheelchair.

Published Tuesday, January 28, 2003

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