To celebrate her 70th birthday, one grandmother decided to embark on a 500-mile trek across Spain to raise money for charity.

Eastern Daily Press: Janay Gibbons (27) and her grandmother Ann (70) will be embarking on a 500-mile tek across Spain to raise money for Cancer Research. Picture: Ian BurtJanay Gibbons (27) and her grandmother Ann (70) will be embarking on a 500-mile tek across Spain to raise money for Cancer Research. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Ann Satchel, from Downham Market, will be joined by her granddaughter Janay Gibbons, 26, from Walpole St. Peter on the Camino de Santiago.

Known as the Way of Saint James, the Camino is a long-distance trail which takes pilgrims across the north of Spain from the Pyrenees, through the Basque country to Santiago de Compostela.

The duo will begin their journey on May 15 and hope to raise £500 for Cancer Research - £1 for every mile.

'It took my family a long time to convince Nan to go on holiday, and since the inaugural trip to Turkey she has been hooked,' said Miss Gibbons.

'I've deliberately organised trips to some weird and wonderful places to show Nan as much of the world as possible.'

Miss Gibbons had completed the Camino walk in 2016 and convinced her grandmother to join her this year, which she agreed to if they raised money for charity.

Miss Gibbons added: 'We wanted to raise money for Cancer Research because every family has been affected by cancer in one way or another.

'It is such a nasty disease that takes so many lives, but this also means that the impact of even small breakthroughs in research can be huge.'

A keen hiker and mountaineer, Miss Gibbons is no stranger to adventure having already journeyed atop Snowdonia in Wales, walked across the Peak District and hiked the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco.

'I walked the Camino in 2016, so I'm confident I can complete it again whilst carrying both of our kit,' she added.

'Nan is a regular at the local gym but not used to long distance walking, so she has been going for 10 mile plus walks around the Downham area, a couple of times a week for the past few months.

'We went for a fully loaded 15 mile walk together, we completed it in under five hours, through strong winds, so I'm confident we are ready for the challenge.'

To follow them on their journey, visit their Facebook blog at: www.facebook.com/JanayandAnnCamino.

To donate, visit their fundraising page at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/janay-gibbons.