“TO our darling Sophie. This walk was for you, in memory of you, and with you always,” wrote a former teacher as she completed a gruelling 800km challenge in memory of her much-loved daughter.

Georgina Airey, also known as George, kept a diary with her as she took part in the Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of St James.

She did the challenge as a way of paying tribute to her daughter Sophie, who took her own life six months ago.

Mrs Airey, who was head of history and pastoral deputy head at Kirkbie Kendal for 30 years, walked every day for a month to try to find some “spiritual peace” following the death of her 29-year-old daughter.

Re-named as “Sophie’s Walk” Mrs Airey started at St Jean Pied de Port in the French Pyrenees and finished at Santiago de Compostela four weeks later.

In her diary, the former teacher shared some of her most vulnerable and sensitive thoughts about the death of her “brilliant” and “beautiful” Sophie.

There were days, she wrote, where she had “doubted” herself physically and emotionally.

And there were times when she was “inconsolable” in missing her daughter.

However, during the gruelling walk Mrs Airey met people from different paths of life who shared with her their stories but also acts of kindness.

“The Camino truly does feed the soul.” she said.

“It was mentally really tough. But it was the kindness from strangers that helped to restore my confidence in life.”

Taking Sophie “every step of the way”, Mrs Airey has been raising money for PAPYRUS, a national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide.

“Sophie’s suicide has made our world a very different one,” she said.

“We now find ourselves on a very different journey now, and one in which we receive such unbelievable kindness and humanity.

“We cannot bring her back, but we can build a positive future for others out of our tragedy. That will remain our aim in Sophie’s memory.”

During the walk Mrs Airey managed to scatter some of her daughter’s ashes in the most beautiful places she passed through.

“In my reflections on this walk I shall always consider the strength for life that darling Sophie gave me,” she said.

Andy Airey, Sophie’s father, is set to run two further half-marathons .

You can follow his progress on Youtube by searching for Run for Sophie.

For those would like to donate in memory of Sophie can do so by going on www.justgiving.com/fundraising/georgina-airey.