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Couple complete 95-mile 'pensioners' pilgrimage'

Sarah-Jane MuddimanNorthamptonshire
Harry's Pals/Hayley Charlesworth A man and woman standing side-by-side in front of a brick wall and garden gate. There's a hanging basket to one side with bright purple flowers. They are both looking at the camera smiling, and are both wearing blue baseball caps with Harry's Pals on the front of it in white text. They both wear white t-shirts with Pensioners' Pilgrimage 2 on the front of them along with an animated picture of the two of them walking beside a canal with London landmarks in the background. Harry's Pals/Hayley Charlesworth
Nick and Kerstin Banham from Daventry have completed their fundraising challenge

A retired couple have completed a 95-mile (153km) charity walk for their second so-called "Pensioners' Pilgrimage".

Nick and Kerstin Banham from Daventry, Northamptonshire, spent ten days trekking from their home to London, following the Grand Union Canal towpath.

The couple, aged 84 and 74 respectively, called it their second "pensioners' pilgrimage", having completed a challenge using their free bus passes in 2025.

Kerstin Banham said: "We knew we couldn't run a marathon or climb a mountain, but we still wanted to do something that would challenge us."

Their trek was in aid of Harry's Pals, which supports parents of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.

The Banhams said they became supporters after hearing how the charity provided emotional support to parents when their children were diagnosed.

They have raised nearly £4,000 from the 10-day walk, which started on 21 September and saw them carry supplies in their backpacks.

Harry's Pals/Hayley Charlesworth Nick and Kerstin sitting beside a canal on the locks, with a bridge behind them which is painted black, green and red. They are both wearing blue baseball caps with Harry's Pals printed on the front, as well as white t-shirts with Pensioners' Pilgrimage 2 printed on them. They both wear backpacks which are secured with straps around their waist and chest. Harry's Pals/Hayley Charlesworth
The couple walked along the Grand Union Canal towpath from Northamptonshire to London

Speaking to Annabel Amos on BBC Radio Northampton, Kerstin Banham said her 84-year-old husband had "absolutely surpassed all my expectations".

"He's kept his spirits up. I don't know, we're just doing this," she added.

Banham said they would not be walking home and joked: "We can't face the journey back up."

Hayley Charlesworth, the founder of Harry's Pals, said: "What Kerstin and Nick have achieved is incredible."

Harry's Pals/Hayley Charlesworth Three people looking at the camera. The couple on the right are both looking at the camera smiling, and are both wearing blue baseball caps with Harry's Pals on the front of it in white text. The woman on the left is also smiling and wearing a grey top and black cardigan. They are stood on a canal towpath with a narrowboat behind them.Harry's Pals/Hayley Charlesworth
Hayley Charlesworth from Harry's Pals (left) saw the couple off on their challenge

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