Through storm and tempest, ankle deep mud and lake sized puddles, not to mention jungles of ear high nettles and brambles, we, Jan and Allan Shepherd, walked the MacMillan Way – 290 miles from Boston in Lincolnshire to Abbotsbury in Dorset.

Our objective was to raise £10 per mile for MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT in memory of our much loved previous spouses, MIKE MINSHULL and VAL SHEPHERD. However, in the light of experience we feel the effort (and the cause) worthy of more and have upped the target to £15 per mile!

For stage one, we set off on Val's birthday, 10 June and walked for eight days from Boston via Surfleet, Baston, Empingham, Belton-in-Rutland, Brampton Ash, Cottesbrook, Farthingstone and Canons Ashby.  We recommenced on 5th August and continued the walk via Shenington, Stow on the Wold, Hampnett, Cirencester, Avening, Sherston, Castle Combe, Bradford on Avon, Lullington, Trudoxhill, Bruton, South Cadbury, Yetminster, Cattistock to finally arrive in Abbotsbury on Mike's birthday, August 19.

At times it was challenging but we had a lot of laughs and met some lovely people and were able to share our happy memories of Mike and Val. When time permits a full report will appear on www.janminshull.co.uk

For more information about THE MACMILLAN WAY please visit www.macmillanway.org

Very many thanks to all the people who made us so welcome along the way, and to all who have so far supported our fundraising effort.

Very best wishes

Jan and Allan Shepherd