A WOMAN has run and walked from coast to coast in six days to raise thousands of pounds for a hospice which cared for her dying father.

Now Bridget Houlston, 34, from Harome, near Helmsley, is preparing for her next challenge – to climb more than 4,500 metres to Machu Picchu in Peru.

Bridget said her father, Eric Houlston, died in August last year, having spent the last few weeks of his life at St Catherine’s Hospice, in Scarborough.

She said: “They provided him with fantastic care, as well as supporting my mum and I through such a difficult time.

“Just before he died, my friend Sarah Bower, from East Lutton, said she would like to raise money for the hospice, so we both decided to sign up for a trek to Machu Picchu, via Charity Challenge.

“As I had previously completed a few marathons and a trek to Kilimanjaro in aid of Breast Cancer, I decided to tag on the coast-to-coast challenge prior to going to Peru, in the hope of raising a bit more money.”

She said she set off on the 192-mile route from St Bees on the west coast on May 13, and reached Robin Hood’s Bay six days later.

“I ran quite a lot of the route, although some of the terrain was very demanding as it incorporated some large peaks in the Lake District as well as some steep climbs across the Yorkshire Dales and Yorkshire moors,” she said.

“Although it was physically demanding and possibly the hardest thing I have ever done, I was surprised I could cover 20 to 35 miles, day after day.

“I was very weary during the final hours, but I knew how proud my dad would have been, so that spurred me on to the finish, where my mum and best friend were waiting.”

She said she had raised approximately £2,500 for the hospice so far.

But a ball organised at the Feathers Hotel in Helmsley had made another £3,500, and Sarah had also raised £2,500.

The pair are due to fly to Peru on Friday to trek up more than 4,500 metres to the World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu.

Anyone wanting to support them should go to justgiving.com/Bridgets-challenges