A TEACHER has set herself the goal of walking 1,000 kilometres this year for charity to mark her 60th birthday.

Libby Hudson, from Hereford, is planning to raise one pound for every kilometre she walks in aid of the Dr Hadwen Trust, the UK's leading non-animal medical research charity.

The charity is currently challenging people to raise £1,000 each to help sponsor their research into brain tumours.

Libby who teaches at the Royal National College for the Blind was diagnosed with arthritis in her feet last year and also has arthritis in her knees, but wanted to complete the challenge.

"I know a lot of people who have had brain tumours and some of them have died," said Libby.

"When I saw this project to research the blood-brain barrier and to find a treatment for brain tumours without using animals to test on at all I thought it would be a good project to support.

"I was challenged to raise £1,000 by the charity but it didn't matter how I did it.

“I reckoned that I was probably walking four or five miles in an average week anyway so I thought I'll double it and add a bit more to make 1,000 kilometres.

“I've lost three pedometers and broken two others, but I still expect to complete by the end of August. Normally people cycle to work well I walk part of the way as well which all helps."

The research which Libby is supporting is a project jointly funded by the Dr Hadwen Trust and Brain Tumour Research.

Libby added: "Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet brain tumour research receives just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research."

If you would like to help her make the total, you can donate at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/LibbyHudson.