A BRIDE-to-be has built up a ‘tribe’ of supporters as she prepares for her wedding by walking 10,000 steps each weekday morning.

Suzanne Balmford, of Towyn, is getting married in August 2021 to fiancé Kevin Rickard.

She started walking with her friend Louise Formston and the duo created a Facebook page called Operation Wedding Dress and started to document their progress.

As other women learnt about their challenge, two became nine.

Every few months the women - along with dog Luna - will raise money and awareness for a charity.

An 18-mile walk - from Rhos on Sea to Prestatyn - has already been carried out for to raise awareness and support for Welsh Women’s Aid.

More than £1,400 was raised.

Louise, 51, who works for a care company and has been friends with Suzanne for eight years, said: “Back in June, Suzanne and I said that we wanted to get fitter and with Suzanne getting married in August 2021, she wanted to be the best version of herself.

“We thought we would get up and do a walk at 6.30am in the morning.

“We went walking around Towyn. After about three or four weeks the local hairdresser asked us ‘what are you doing?’ and then ‘can I come?’. We said 'of course' and from there it started to build.”

Suzanne, 41, who works for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, and Louise hope their next charity walk will be a midnight one to raise funds for Help For Heroes.

Louise said: "We thought Help for Heroes as Kev, Suzanne’s fiancé, was in the military.

"Every three months or so we said we will do a big walk. We would like it to be a Welsh based charity where possible - a different walk for different charities. We will launch a JustGiving page when we do a big walk.

"When we were talking about why we are walking, we all walk for different reasons.

"Some for weight reasons, some keeping fit."

Anyone in the area is welcome to join the group on their early walks.

To find out more, search for Operation Wedding Dress on Facebook.