A WOMAN is walking 25kms to raise money for the British Heart Foundation in memory of her husband who died unexpectedly.

Sally Thompson is doing the Kendal's Ultra Challenge for the charity British Heart Foundation to raise awareness of heart and circulatory diseases.

On the morning of June 6 2020 Sally's husband Ian Thompson died of an enlarged heart at the age of 53.

Mr Thompson, from Kendal, was living in Spondon, in Derby. He was the father of three grown-up children.

Mrs Thompson said: "He had an heart murmur when he was younger and he was checked every year but when we moved out to Derby when he was 21 the consultant said that he was healthy and he said he would see him back in his 50s or 60s.

"The reason why I'm walking is to raise awareness that people have to keep getting themselves checked.

"Ian was not ill before he died and I want people to be aware to get themselves checked when they get into their 50s to make sure that they get double-checked."

Mr Thompson was born and brought up in Kendal and attended Kendal Grammar School.

He was 'very active' with the Scouting community becoming Chairman of Derby East and Ilkeston - he had just received an award for 25 years of service.

Mrs Thompson, who works as a childminder, described him as a 'community-minded man.'

"He was a fantastic family man. He was always there for his children and for me, but he was also there for the community which he lived in," she said.

Mrs Thompson will be walking from Kendal to Ambleside on June 10 with a group of friends.

Mrs Thompson has already raised £925 of the £500 target for The British Heart Foundation.

To support this cause visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sally-thompson23