A dedicated charity walker will be making her way through the west Dorset coast this weekend.

Karen Penny is walking the entire British and Irish coastline for charity and will pass through Seatown, West Bay on Saturday and Burton Bradstock on to Langton Herring on Sunday.

She is currently on her 493rd day of her continuous 20,000km walking challenge around the British and Irish coast and its islands – a feat never achieved by a woman before.

In a bid to raise £100,000 for Alzheimer's Research UK, she set off in January 2019 and has been walking everyday since. Her entire journey is expected to take three and a half years.

Karen said: "I am really looking forward to walking the Dorset coast to Burton Bradstock on Saturday.

"I have walked 7,500 miles - and raised £68,442 for Alzheimer's Research UK – around the cast of Ireland, Wales and Scotland and I am now heading to Shetland to finish my walk in 15 months' time.

"Every day has been incredible. I have so loved walking the South West Coast Path, a huge mixture of different terrain and weather and a wonderful welcome. Local communities have been so supportive. I think everyone knows someone who has been affected by Alzheimer's and dementia."

She would welcome the company of other walkers who would like to join her en route.

Karen, who is married with one son, lives in the Gower Peninsula in Wales, having retired following three decades working in the legal profession.

She volunteers for many local causes, including the Nation Trust, working as a volunteer ranger to help safeguard the Gower Peninsula, and in her spare time is a keen parkrun runner and member of Lliswerry Runners in Newport.

Before embarking on her "adventure of a lifetime", Karen completed a marathon and walked from John O'Groats to Land's End in aid of Alzheimer's Research UK.

On her reasons for supporting the charity, she said: "Many people have pre-conceptions about dementia, and often, it is only when someone is personally affected that they begin to find out about it.

"Dementia has had a profound impact upon our family. During the last 10 years we have lost two very dear family members; Alma, who succumbed to the effects of vascular dementia in a matter of months, and Kingsley, who deteriorated to such an extent both mentally and physically that ultimately, he couldn't even recognise family members.

"I have previously raised over £6,000 for Alzheimer's by running a marathon and walking the length of Britain."

Karen is now devoting four years of her life, leaving family and friends and her cat Bilbo behind her, to raise a target of £100,000 for Alzheimer's Research UK.

Karen added: "In 2017, Alzheimer's and other dementias became the leading cause of death in th UK. With no treatments to stop or cure them, these diseases that no one has yet survived. Alzheimer's Research UK is committed to changing that and, with their supporters, they are here to make breakthroughs possible."

To donate, visit Karen's fundraising appeal at Just Giving and to keep up to date with her progress, visit her Facebook page .