A woman set out on an arduous 1,500 mile walk from Pembrokeshire to Spain this morning (Thursday) in memory of her friend, Tina Brodie, originally from Bufferland.

Gaye Smith, 65, currently living in Spain, started her epic walk from Freshwater East beach at 10am this morning.

For Gaye, the walk, expected to take as long as four- and-a-half months, is both in memory of her friend Tina, who lost her life to lung cancer last December, just three weeks short of her 54th birthday; and a way of raising funds for cancer support group MacMillan, who helped and supported Tina towards the end of her life.

“Tina was my great friend and walking companion.

This walk is dedicated to her and all the wonderful people who make dealing with cancer a little bit easier,” said Gaye.

At her funeral Tina requested that a collection be made for the Macmillan nurses.

“When I walked with Tina and her husband Nick I often spoke to her of my dream to one day walk from the UK back to my home in Spain, never thinking that if I ever tried to do it losing Tina would be the spur to make it happen,” said Gaye.

“The challenge is to walk from Freshwater East to Puerto de La Laja on the river Guadiana in the far South West of Spain, on a £140 a week which is my pension.”

Some £350 out of a hoped- for £2,500 has already been raised through the Justgiving website, macmillan.tributefunds.com/tina-brodie.