Wife to walk across island for late husband

Debs Goodenough will be taking part in Walk the Wight to honour her husband Simon

The wife of a gardener who died of cancer is preparing to walk across the Isle of Wight in his memory.

Debs Goodenough will be taking part in the Walk the Wight challenge in aid of the Mountbatten Hospice.

She said it was an opportunity to honour her husband Simon, while also supporting the hospice which cared for her and her family.

"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," Mrs Goodenough explained.

Mr Goodenough was a gardener known for his work on Ventnor Botanical Gardens, but he also created a garden for the hospice.

He and his wife lived on the island together for 39 years, before he died last year after being diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.

Mrs Goodenough will be walking across the island with her sons Rory and Jake

Mrs Goodenough will be walking 26.5miles (42.6km) across the island with her sons Rory and Jake.

She said: "Simon was a larger than life character and all that knew him said he brought life and colour and enjoyment to everyone.

"He was always helpful, particularly in the garden, and supported everyone that he possibly could."

The annual Walk the Wight challenge has been running for 35 years and supports the hospice by raising money for patients and the families it cares for.

The annual Walk the Wight challenge has been running for 35 years

More than 6,500 people are expected to take part, and Mrs Goodenough has spent the past three months training for the event.

"I've walked nearly 330 miles (531km) on the island in training, so fingers crossed. I'm very nervous," she said.

"The day Simon died, we had a little walk and it was two miles, and I promised Simon I would support the hospice, and my sons said 'If you want to Walk the Wight we'll do it with you'.

"We've lived on the island for a long time and my husband planted a garden at the hospice a long time ago, but I've never had that insight into what it was like first hand."

Mrs Goodenough added: "I've never in my life had such wonderful care from a team like the hospice."