A COUNCILLOR and her children are taking on long distance walks in an effort to raise money for a hospice.

Clare Feeney-Johnson will be walking 42.65 miles from Keswick to Barrow and her children Sasha, 14, and Toby, 12, are walking over 20 miles between Coniston and Barrow. They will be raising money for St John's hospice.

The annual fundraising walk from Keswick to Barrow is in its fiftieth year, and this latest attempt from Cllr Feeney-Johnson and her sister's marks their ninth time.

Cllr Feeney-Johnson said: "It's a fabulous walk to do because it is a challenge for so many people. It gets people motivated. We are really looking forward to it.

"My sister and I were going to stop after last year's walk, but since it's the fiftieth anniversary, and since it's also St John's Hospice's fortieth birthday, we decided to go again.

"What St John's do is amazing. They help people when they need it most. Because it's their anniversary we want to get as much sponsorship as possible."

Walkers on the Keswick to Barrow walk have to start at 5am on May 7, while those walking the Coniston to Barrow route start at 8am.

Sasha and Toby Johnson will be walking with their uncle, who did the walk with Sasha for the first time last year.

Not to be outdone by his sister, Toby signed up for the walk this year.

Now that Cllr Feeney-Johnson has signed up for her ninth walk, the original plan to stop may be further deferred.

"Now we're doing nine it would be a shame not to finish on ten. We might have to do another to end on a round number," she said.

"Then it might be time to find a new challenge; something not quite so difficult."

You can sponsor walkers on the Keswick to Barrow website by clicking on the sponsor a walker tab and naming the walker you wish to support.