Man takes on 190-mile walk in memory of his wife

Three charities are set to benefit from Keith Ogley's walk

An 80-year-old man is taking on a 190-mile coast to coast walk in memory of his late wife.

Keith Ogley, from Anlaby in East Yorkshire, is raising money for three charities chosen by his late wife Raine Ogley.

The walk began in St Bees on the Cumbria coast on 22 May, and Mr Ogley said he aimed to arrive in Robin Hoods Bay in North Yorkshire this week.

He said his wife gave the walk his blessing before she died of cancer, despite thinking it was a "stupid" idea.

Despite some heavy rain on the walk, some days have been clear

The hike will raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, Castle Hill Cancer Trust Fund and UK homeless charities, which will be distributed via the Winterton and District Lions Club, of which Mr Ogley is a member.

Mr Ogley said his wife, also a member of the Lions, was "always thinking of other people" despite "suffering and being in pain" after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in March 2022.

'By my side'

Mr Ogley first completed the coast to coast walk 20 years ago when he said it was "a lot easier".

The challenge got off to a rocky start with two days of heavy rain and some "testing climbs" across the Lake District, with Mr Ogley taking a fall that also knocked down some of his fellow walkers.

"At my age, I have to take it pretty steadily," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

Despite the challenges of completing a long-distance hike in his eighties, he said: "In a sense I'm enjoying it - because I'm doing it for her.

"It does feel I'm being supported by her - she's by my side," he added.

To follow Mr Ogley's journey, search for Lion Keith Coast to Coast on Facebook.