Women who make up the club are all fighting breast cancer and since 2006 each year group members have walked a stretch of the Rochdale Canal for a charity, raising funds for their chosen organisation each year and celebrating another year of their lives.

When they stride out from their traditional starting point at the Lidl supermarket car park in Halifax Road, Todmorden, at 10 am on Sunday, June 1, they are likely to be joined by a special guest said one of the group, Anne Reynolds.

The group first set out on a Spring Walk in 2006 when they were supporting her son Graeme Rose's bid to support them by taking on a marathon cycling challenge to raise money for Cancer Research UK back in 2006.

Graeme reached the climax of his epic marathon across 44 countries in September 2006 after visiting every country in Europe, cycling more than 12,000 miles and raising thousands of pounds.

He had timed the trip to coincide with the best weather for cycling in each area of Europe spending spring in the Mediterranean, summer in the Baltic states and late summer in Eastern Europe before the final stages through Turkey and Cyprus.

Group members have continued to take part in a walk every year since, and this year their aim is walk to Sowerby Bridge along the canal towpath route.

They will be collecting en route and this year Anne said proceeds will go to Overgate Hospice, which has provided support for so many Calderdale families.

Anne said: "Graeme's coming home from Australia for the walk and this time he's going to be doing the walk for us."

She explained that the walk was also another way in which the group, all fighting the serious illness, could gain strength and support from the friendship they have forged.

"As well as raising money for charity, it is a celebration of another year of our life," she said. For details about the walk, or to sponsor the walkers, telephone 07909 697218.