Man walks Wiltshire's white horses in wife's memory

A man is spending five days walking Wiltshire's White Horse Trail to raise money for the hospice that looked after his wife.

Jo Kehoe Butler, who had cancer, died in May. She had been cared for at home by the nurses at Prospect Hospice in Wroughton.

Her husband, Mark Butler, started the hike on Wednesday with his playing partner from Pewsey Tennis Club, Mike Hutchinson.

They will cover a total of 95 miles (152km), walking to eight white horses. To make the trip more challenging, the pair will stop for a game of tennis at every white horse they reach.

The route will take them through Pewsey, Marlborough, Broad Town, Cherhill, Devizes, Steeple Ashton, and Bratton.

The white horses are famous landmarks cut into the chalk hillside at various times between 1742 and the start of the 21st century.

Mr and Mrs Butler, who moved to Pewsey three years ago from London, had been together for 37 years and "had a very happy marriage for all that time", he said.

"She was a wonderful person," Mr Butler added.

Mr Butler and Mr Hutchinson hope to raise £5,000 and to commemorate his wife, who had cancer for 12 years, along the way.

"We were just overwhelmed by the kindness of Prospect Hospice and how much they did," Mr Butler said.

He said the idea to hike the area's eight white horses for charity came in the wake of Mrs Butler's passing.

"Me and Jo had considered doing these white horse walks ourselves, but unfortunately we never got to do it," he said.

Mr Butler said he wanted to thank Prospect Hospice for the care she received at home in the weeks leading up to her death.

"Organisations like prospect, they give people dignity and they make it as easy as they can for you during a very difficult time," said Mr Butler.

“The amazing care Jo got from the Prospect nursing team enabled her to remain at home - which was her dearest wish - and to be surrounded by the love of friends and family."

Mr Butler and Mr Hutchinson will be supported by friends and members of the Pewsey Tennis Club, who plan to join them for some of the walk.

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