SHALOM House will be able to provide three weeks worth of respite care thanks to the combined efforts of a county councillor, a teaching assistant and a trainee therapist.

Lyn Jenkins from Solva, Cathy Morton from Roch and Claire McNamara from Cilgerran took part in the Thames Path Challenge to raise money for the palliative care unit in St Davids.

They had high hopes of raising £1,500 between them, which would provide a week’s respite for five patients, but they managed to smash their target and collect just under £5,000 in sponsorship.

The determined trio headed to London in September to take on the 100 kilometre route from Putney to Henley.

Cllr Lyn Jenkins did the challenge in memory of her late husband Kelvin.

She said: “Claire and I met on a Pembrokeshire Women Walking walk and she said she had signed up for the Thames Path Challenge to raise money for Shalom and did I fancy joining her? For some reason I said it sounded good and that I would join her.

“I then called Cathy, who I used to work with at the Roch Gate Motel back in the 70s, asking for advice on taking part. She then decided to do it as well.

“Cathy and I trained all summer and didn't actually meet up with Claire until the event, when our paths only crossed briefly as we had different start times.”

Cllr Jenkins added: “Sadly I discovered that my useless back and a heavy rucksack did not get on so I only completed 50k which is still further than I have ever walked in life!”

Claire said: “Did I enjoy it? After 27 hours of walking I don’t think enjoy is the word!

“But the experience was incredible and so moving when you saw people who were in recovery themselves or who were walking in memory of someone.”