A grandmother from Walton and her gaggle of grandchildren will take part in a fancy dress charity walk along the Thames in memory of her husband.

Mim Fitzgerald, 62, and her eight grandchildren, who range from two to 24-years-old, will dress up as Smurfs when they take on the four-mile Towpath Trundle in aid of Princess Alice Hospice on May 19 to celebrate the life of her husband.

Mrs Fitzgerald, whose husband died two years ago, said: “It was a very difficult time, made easier by the care and support that the hospice provided to the whole family.

“We were all able to be together as a family and be there when Des needed us most.”

The sponsored walk will be a family event as Mrs Fitzgerald will be joined by her grandchildren, Jessie Barnes, 24, from Walton, Luke Dewster, 13, from Hersham, Keely-Marie Reilly, 16, Ruben Plater, five, two-year-old twins Xanthe and Xavier Plater and Leah Tavener, eight, and her brother Oscar, four.

The children’s parents will also take part.

Mrs Fitzgerald said: “Des loved a good family get together and parties of any kind. He would love to be here dressed up as a Smurf and doing the Trundle with us.

“In our hearts Des will be with us every step of the way - as he always is.”

For further details about the Towpath Trundle, visit pah.org.uk