TWO Westbury women are going to walk part of the Great Wall of China to raise money for Naomi House & Jacksplace Hospice in Winchester.

Alison Bell, 52, and Tracey Owen, 49, will walk twelve White Horses to prepare for the walk and have set a fundraising target of just under £6,000.

The friends, who met when they moved to Primmers Place seven years ago, were inspired to raise money for the hospice after the partner of a relative of Mrs Owen spent their final days there.

Mrs Bell, owner of Dynamik-Bodyz Gym in Meadow Lane, said: “We want to raise as much money as possible for this brilliant hospice.

“When you visit the place, you realise how amazing the staff are and it makes you want to do your best to raise money for them.

“Ever since we became friends we have wanted to do something fun and exciting and also wanted to raise money for a good cause, so walking the Great Wall seemed like a good option, and the hospice is something close to our hearts.

“The most challenging aspect will be the terrain and number of steps, not the actual distance.”

The hospice provides care to more than 280 life-limited and life-threatened children and, young adults and their extended families, from Wiltshire and neighbouring counties.

The duo will walk a combined total of around 30 hours as they trek part of the 13,171-mile wall.

They will be calling into local pubs, shops and businesses with collection buckets to boost their fundraising effort and will also complete several car washes before flying to China.

Naomi House & Jacksplace hospices are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and deliver a range of services to help relieve families of the everyday pressures of looking after a child or young adult person with a life-limiting condition.

The charity needs to raise £7 million a year to run a full service and deliver its plans as it receives less than 10 per cent of its income from the government, with the remaining amount raised and donated by individuals, groups and businesses.

Mrs Bell and Mrs Owen have set up a Facebook page to keep people updated on their progress. 'Like' it here: https://www.facebook.com/Ali-tracey-walk-in-aid-of-naomi-jacks-place-hospice-1602610783397340/?fref=ts