A WOMAN who took part in a six-day walk through North Wales raised £1,803 for a St Asaph charity which has provided invaluable care and support to her husband.

Sue Last walked from Bangor to Aberdaron, part of the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way route, between September 11-16, in aid of St Kentigern Hospice, a charity providing care and support for patients with any life-limiting condition and their families.

The hospice, where Sue also served as chaplain for 15 years and also as a board member, has provided respite care to Sue’s husband, John, who was formally diagnosed with dementia six years ago.

Sue, who now acts as John’s full-time carer, usually takes on the entire 135-mile path from Basingwerk Abbey to Aberdaron, but opted for a shorter walk starting in Bangor this year, encompassing her favourite stretch of the route.

She said: “There’s a core group of us that set up the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way 10 years ago.

“I’ve been doing this walk for 10 years and this is the first year I haven’t been able to do the whole lot, and it’s the first year my husband hasn’t been able to do it with me, either, so it was quite poignant.

“My favourite part is the walk from Bangor to Aberdaron, because you follow the coastal path right down the north coast of the Llŷn Peninsula, taking in some wonderful ancient searches en route.

“It’s not a difficult decision to choose (to raise money for) the hospice because they’re grossly underfunded by government. The majority of their funding comes through fundraising.

“The hospice now has one respite bed dedicated for people with dementia, so I’m very fortunate that he’s been able to go in there for respite care; the respite care he had in September enabled me to do the walk.

“I couldn’t have done it otherwise; he needs full time care, so it was great. They (St Kentigern) have been amazingly helpful.”

Sue, who also walked along the Great Wall of China five years ago with her grandson to raise money for St Kentigern, presented the hospice with a cheque for £1,803 in their café, Caffi Cariad, where she and John remain regular visitors.

For more information about St Kentigern, visit: www.stkentigernhospice.org.uk.