FUNDRAISING friends and their dog have celebrated after finishing an epic 757 mile walk along the entire coast of Wales.

Liz Atkins, aged 68, John Plant, 74, and dog Matty, all from Chipping Norton, started their walk on August 26 in Chester and finished in Chepstow, walking an average of 20 miles a day.

They did the challenge to raise in a bid to raise £10,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, and are just £750 short of their target.

Ms Atkins said: "We can hardly believe what we have done. When we look at the map of Wales it doesn't seem possible but the support, generosity and general cheering from family and friends helped us to realise our dream of walking 757 miles around the coast of Wales for a charity we really admire.

"And now John is off to Burma in ten days’ time on the next Teenage Cancer Trust trek."

The pair are both long-term supporters of Teenage Cancer Trust and Ms Atkins has raised about £50,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust since 1999.

She added: "I was inspired to do what I could after the death of Paula Walsh, one of my youth drama group students. Paula was one of the brightest and the best; she died of leukemia just short of her 17th birthday in 1998.

"She was treated and died in a ward full of elderly people and I don’t want other teenagers to have the same experience as she did."

The walking duo have strong Welsh connections and this is why they have chosen to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust’s new unit at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and the unit at University Hospital in Cardiff.

Emily Cooper, regional fundraiser for Teenage Cancer Trust, said: "What an amazing achievement, thank you very much for your support Liz and John. The sponsorship money from the incredible challenge will help us make sure young people with cancer don’t feel alone."

To make a donation visit justgiving.com/Liz-John-Matty/ or visit teenagecancertrust.org.