URSULA Martin set off on a 3,300 mile walk from Machynlleth on March 2.

Ursula is an ovarian cancer survivor and is taking on this epic challenge to and from hospital appointments in a bid to highlight issues surrounding the disease. Carrying a tent she will camp some nights and has been offered accommodation along the journey by friends and well wishers.

After spending a night camping in woodland near Llangunllo, Ursula arrived in Knighton on April 23, and was given a big welcome by the Mayor of Knighton Cllr Roger Bright and everyone who attended the Knighton Community support coffee morning in the community centre. She was introduced to everyone by town clerk Neil King and received lots of donations for the two charities she is supporting Target Ovarian Cancer and Penny Brohn Cancer Care.

At the same time as Ursula is walking Rebecca Morris from Llanfair Waterdine is also taking on the challenge to walk around Wales to raise money for Shelter Cymru. The two women have been communicating with each other via phone but won't be meeting up during their walks because they are both travelling on the same direction. Although Ursula said that Rebecca who is due to finish her walk first will come and find her somewhere so they can meet up in the next month or two. Llanfair Waterdine WI members including Ann Harroway were going to meet up with Rebecca on April 24, and Ann had a special postcard to deliver to Rebecca from Ursula wishing her all the best.

Ursula was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in 2012 and started by her walk by walking the 225 miles to Bristol for her hospital appointment at St Michael's. She then headed back into Wales and hiked along the Offa's Dyke path and Glyndwr's Way. After leaving Knighton this week she headed again along the Offa's Dyke Path towards Welshpool and then later on to the coastal path and will make her second hospital appointment on Bristol in the Autumn.

Ursula a former care worker hopes her eight-month challenge, criss-crossing the nation, will raise awareness of ovarian cancer. Along the way she aims to speak to every Welsh AM and MP in their constituency to raise awareness of ovarian cancer.

Ursula 34, who was diagnosed in early 2012, said she was concerned to be told survival rates for the disease after one year are three percent lower in Wales than the rest of the UK. After she was diagnosed six weeks later a 30cm malignant cyst was removed and she spent her 32nd birthday anxiously waiting to be told if the cancer had spread. Then later Ursula was told it hadn't spread but she must now wait five years before she gets the all clear,

Ursula said "The walk is about talking about ovarian cancer and making people more aware.

"According to figures from the charity Target Ovarian Cancer the one-year survival rate for women with ovarian cancer is three percent lower in Wales than the rest of the UK: 66.3% compared to 69.9%. All this is a sign of late diagnosis. She hopes to raise £10,000 for Target Ovarian Cancer and the Penny Brohn Cancer Care charities.

To donate, visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/OneWomanWalksWales or visit her website at http://www.onewomanwalkswales.com.