Wife completes 'emotional' walk for late husband

Debs Goodenough walked with her sons and daughter-in-law

The wife of a horticulturalist who died of cancer was among thousands who took part in an annual walk across the Isle of Wight.

Debs Goodenough took on the 26.5-mile Walk the Wight challenge in memory of Simon Goodenough, former curator at Ventnor Botanic Garden, who died in January.

She raised more than £7,000 for Mountbatten, the hospice which supported them through his illness.

After successfully completing the challenge on Sunday, she said it had been "really emotional" and she was "really proud of all the team that participated".

Simon and Debs Goodenough shared a love of horticulture

Mrs Goodenough, who is also a horticulturalist, was joined on the walk from Bembridge to Alum Bay by her sons, Rory and Jake, and her daughter-in-law.

Speaking mid-way through, at Carisbrook Castle, she said: "It's been a grand, grand walk - there's been so many wonderful people and so far the knees are holding out."

Mr Goodenough was curator at Ventnor Botanic Garden for 25 years, but also created a garden for the hospice.

The couple lived on the island together for 39 years, before he died last year, after being diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.

About 10,000 people take part in the annual Walk the Wight, which now in its 35th year.

It supports Mountbatten, the only hospice on the island, by raising money for patients and their families.

Mrs Goodenough said: "They wrapped us up, took care of us - it's been a really, really tough year for myself and our family and they gave us support like I'd never believe."