A TAVISTOCK woman took part in a charity fundraising exercise recently, that involved walking 93 miles across the country from Wallsend to Bowness on Solway following Hadrian's Wall.

Louisa McDonough took part in exercise Centurion Shadow, a force development exercise that is used to help prepare the unit for future operations.

Louisa, a sergeant with the RAF, is currently serving with 90 Signals Unit based at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.

The unit, that has personnel deployed on operations in Afghanistan all the year round, decided to add the charity drive to the exercise in order to raise funds for the Butterwick Children's Hospice in Stockton, and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

The unit raised more than £11,000 during the gruelling journey, and this will be divided between the two charities.

Louisa said: 'This has been an extremely challenging event.

'It has been great that we have been able to raise cash for two such worthwhile charities.'

Group Captain John Philliban, Officer Commanding 90 Signals Unit, presented cheques to both the Butterwick Children's Hospice and the RAF Benevolent Fund and praised all personnel that had taken part.

'Clearly, this was a tremendous achievement all round and not only for those participating but also the commitment and effort of the support party, as well as the not insignificant amount of planning and coordination required to make the event such a success,' he said.