Marley and I started the 874-mile Lejog10 virtual walk from Land's End to John o' Groats⏤Marley is my faithful Cocker Spaniel. We spent most of our time walking along the coast of Morecambe and Heysham to add our miles.

We walked for The Birchall Trust, a charity who have helped and supported me with counselling to build a better and more fulfilled life. They are a free counselling service helping the survivors of sexual abuse and rape, funded by donations and grants.To see my full story go to Lancaster Guardian, 27 April 2021 .

When I first saw the challenge, I thought there is no way we can do that! But the more I thought about it, the more I realised that we walk everyday; and so long as we do 3 miles a day, then we can complete it by the end of the year. We started on the 8 January 2021, and completed the 874 miles on the 2 June 2021.

In March this year I lost my dear friend Carol to Cancer and as we approached the end of the first walk I thought it would be a good idea for us to do the return walk for St Johns Hospice Lancaster. Marley and I set off for the virtual walk of John o‘ Groats to Lands End (jogle) on the 3 June and all was going well until Marley became unwell in July and had to be put to sleep. For days I walked around in a fog and then I decided to carry on in Memory of Carol and Marley. They had both kept me going through Lockdown every day.

As of 17 October I have 40 miles left to complete the walk. To think that when I started the first virtual walk in January I thought I would struggle to complete 874 in a year but by the time I complete them both I will have walked 1748 miles all in 10 months with my four legged friends and two legged friends. Walking without a dog is strange and I have since got a puppy called Buddy who cannot walk as many miles a day as Marley could but is helping me complete the miles.

Sponsor me for St Johns hospice here, by tapping Give Now, or for The Birchall Trust it is Virgin Money Giving, which closes on the 30th November, so please don’t delay with your sponsorship

Thank you for sponsoring us and supporting us all the way.

Thank you for reading my story.

Lorraine and Buddy

In memory of Carol Singleton and Marley