Annie and Josh lead the way!

They both undertook a lot of training and on 28 July 2005 they set off on their 13-day, 200-mile Coast-to-Coast walk. The route they took, which was recently voted the second most beautiful long distance trek in the world as well as one of the hardest flat land walks in the UK, took them right across the remote parts of the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors.

'Nothing can prepare you for the long steep ascents across fells and mountains in the Lake District…I'm sure Josh sometimes thought with longing of his nice warm bedroom complete with play station, computer and sound system. But if he did, he didn't show it, he coped brilliantly.'

After navigating their way across remote terrain, rocky climbs and rushing streams, they finally arrived in Robin Hood's Bay 13 days later.

'The sense of achievement was immense - I couldn't speak for emotion as I dipped the toe of my trusty walking boot in the Irish Sea in true Coast to Coast tradition.'

Annie and Josh undertook this challenge with the aim of raising much-needed funds for the Alzheimer's Society in memory of Annie's mother, Mary, who has dementia.

'It is too late to help my mother but if the money we have raised can aid research that makes life better for people with dementia, every step will have been worthwhile.'