FRIENDS and family of people living with dementia were inspired to take on a physical challenge on Walney to raise money for vital research.

A Memory Walk was held on Sunday, with around 80 people walking either two or seven miles for the Alzheimer's Society.

The route took in the scenic coast of the island and started and finished at Walney Community Centre in Central Drive, where a family fun day was held afterwards.

RELATED ARTICLE: Massive dementia charity event to return to Walney this weekend

The event was organised by Jade Marshall, a dementia nurse at the Ramsay Unit in Barrow, who decided it was time for the community to host a fundraiser for dementia.

She said: "It's been brilliant. It's a good turnout.

"There's just none in the area and people have to travel to Manchester and Carlisle.

"It's really good as it makes people more aware of dementia and it's raised quite a lot of money.

"We will do it again."

It's the first time such a Memory Walk has been held on the island in several years and comes amid demand for an official local walk to take place closer to home.

Les McLeese, who works at Leonard Cheshire, was one of the volunteers on the day.

He said: "For a lot of people it means something to them. I think it's the first one in a long while and hopefully we will do it again."

Another memory walk to take place on Sunday was in Manchester's Heaton Park, with Pam Burton and her nine-year-old daughter, Olivia Burton, and her friend, Skylar Haley, 11, all from Askam, among the 6,000 taking part.

They all got to meet Coronation Street stars Daniel Brocklebank who plays vicar Billy Mayhew and Richard Hawley who plays Underwood boss Johnny Connor.

Ms Burton said: "My nana, Isabella, fought a long battle with Alzheimer's and she passed away in February last year.

"Olivia wanted to do something to raise some money in memory of her great-nana and this seemed like the perfect thing."