GRANDMOTHER Rosemary Boocock is preparing to walk 500 miles across France and Spain to help a Forest cancer support group.

But she won’t be alone – she’ll have her best friend, Karen from Stoke, with her as she walks the famous Camino de Compostela or Way of St James in aid of Charlie’s Cancer Support.

She said: “I’ve been wanting to do the Camino for some time but now that I’m a volunteer with Charlie’s I thought it was a good time to do it and raise money because we want to  expand further into the Forest of Dean and it is all done through public donations.”

Rosemary and Karen have been in training for six months for the walk which will start on Friday, April 26.

As part of her training, once a week Rosemary walks the 14 miles from her home at Aston Crews near Newent, over the summit of the 970ft May Hill and back home.

She added: “When I could do that comfortably, I thought I could do the Camino.”

As well as the 14-miler, Rosemary swims and trains twice a week at Halo in Ross-on-Wye as well as walking between five and eight miles a day.

Rosemary and Karen are planning to complete the walk over 36 days, walking for up to 20 miles for three days and having a well-earned break on the fourth and finishing on June 12.

Charlie’s supports people affected by cancer and their carers but receives no government funding.

Their monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at Lydney Community Centre in Naas Lane and on the last Friday of the month at The Belfry in Littledean. Both sessions are 10am until 2pm.

If you would like to support Rosemary’s fund-raiser visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/walkforcharlies