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Pensioners taking marathon bus trip for hospice

Marcus BootheBristol
Valerie Boon Valerie and Sue are standing next to a white direction sign post in John O'Groats. The post is pointing in multiple directions to New York, Edinburgh and Lands End. Valerie Boon
Sue and Valerie are travelling from John O' Groats to Land's End only using public buses

Two pensioners are travelling more than 1,000 miles by bus to raise cash for their local hospice.

Valerie Boon and Sue Hill, both in their eighties and from Bristol, plan to use just public transport to get from John O'Groats to Land's End.

They said: "It's not the quickest or easiest journey, but that's exactly why we're doing it, to raise funds for a cause very close to our hearts."

They started their marathon journey on 8 June and have raised more than £700 for St Peter's Hospice, already beating their original target of £500.

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Valerie Boon A bus driver standing next to a small mini-bus with the words The Johnny Groat Shuttle on the side.Valerie Boon
The pair travelled through Scotland using "long-buses" and inner-city buses

The pair started travelling through Scotland booking hotels and organising buses every step of the way.

Boon said her family downloaded lots of apps to help the pair navigate around the UK.

"Yesterday we caught our long bus by three minutes, we got off one bus and straight on the other," she said.

Valerie Boon The two women sat on a public bench in Inverness waiting for a bus. They are both sat down and smiling at the camera. They are wearing blue charity t-shirts.Valerie Boon
Boon and Hill did the challenge to raise money for St Peter's Hospice

Last year, St Peter's Hospice cared for more than 2,000 people that live with incurable cancer and other life-limiting illnesses

The pair are completely funding the trip ourselves, so every penny donated goes directly to the hospice.

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