Man to Nordic walk 600km in wife's memory

Pete Turfrey said he wanted to thank the charity which had acted as a "lifeline" during his late wife's final months

A man is Nordic walking 372 miles (600km) to raise money and awareness of the cancer care centre which supported his wife during her final months.

Pete Turfrey, from Gloucestershire, is taking on the challenge in memory of his late wife Pauline, who died in April 2024 following a breast cancer diagnosis.

Mrs Turfrey had become a Nordic walking instructor at Maggie's centre in Cheltenham, and was an "advocate" for how much the sport could help people.

Setting off from Maggie's in Manchester on 4 August, Mr Turfrey will visit six other centres around the country before finishing in Cheltenham on 22 August.

Nordic walking is a type of walking that uses specially designed lightweight poles to engage the upper body, making it a more intense, full-body workout.

Mr Turfrey said the charity were grateful for the "legacy" his late wife left behind

In the years leading up her death, Mrs Turfrey volunteered at the cancer support centre at least three times a week.

Having read an article on how beneficial Nordic walking was - in particular for those who have had lymph nodes removed - she decided to train as an instructor.

She qualified with Nordic Walking UK in 2015 and began running courses for cancer patients to help restore their strength, mobility and confidence - which continue to this day.

"Pauline was a great advocate in Nordic walking," Mr Turfrey told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"It gives people confidence who may have possibly lost that in exercising, once they have had treatment for cancer and they feel low.

"She must have taken out 200-300 people over a five-year period. They are all so grateful to Pauline and what she did for them."

Mr Turfrey said his interest in the sport was initially borne out of being a "guinea pig" for his wife, but soon became a way to carry on her "legacy".

"I keep calling it a 'hairbrained scheme' because I don't know if I've taken on too much," he laughed.

"I've wanted to do something for Maggie's to thank them, because they gave Pauline a lifeline."