DESPITE not being able to walk 100 yards last year due to a serious illness, a Cuffley man has got in shape to complete a 198-mile hike in memory of his wife. Martyn Folland described his coast to coast trek from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood Bay

DESPITE not being able to walk 100 yards last year due to a serious illness, a Cuffley man has got in shape to complete a 198-mile hike in memory of his wife.

Martyn Folland described his coast to coast trek from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood Bay in Yorkshire as one of the most "exhilarating" things he has ever done.

The Homewood Avenue man raised more than �3,500 for the Isabel Hospice, which cared for his wife Sandra last year.

Martyn told the WHT: "It was just excellent. It was the most exhilarating experience I've had. And I've done a lot of walking!

"My wife died of cancer last year, she was planning to do it, but it became a walk too far for her.

"So this was partly in her memory and partly as it was something we wanted to do anyway," he added: "Sandra had a zest for walking in her life and had successfully completed several of the major walking trails available in England, including the 630-mile South West Coast Path as well as the 180 miles of the Thames Path."

The 62-year-old's friends also took part in the coast-to-coast trek, each raising cash for their own charities, and completed it within 18 days.

However, the hike was literally no walk in the park for Martyn, dad of hertbeat radio's Steve, who explained he was advised not to walk at all by his doctor due to thyroid problems just over a year ago.

"It was quite an achievement; we only had two days off," Martyn added: "When I got home I still completed a 13-mile walk though."

Next up, the rambler fancies taking on South Africa or the Inca Trail in Peru, both, again in memory of his late wife.

To add to this year's donation visit www.justgiving.com/martyn follandcoast2coast