Linda Fairbrother, the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, and 15 fellow walkers arrived at Fenland Hall in March on Friday at the end of the first leg of her six-day, 70-mile “Coast to Cambridge’ charity trek.

Wisbech Standard: Linda Fairbrother, the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, and 15 fellow walkers in Fenland for the first leg of her six-day, 70-mile “Coast to Cambridge’ charity trek.Linda Fairbrother, the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, and 15 fellow walkers in Fenland for the first leg of her six-day, 70-mile “Coast to Cambridge’ charity trek. (Image: Archant)

They were greeted by a welcome party led by Councillor Ken Mayor, chairman of Fenland District Council, and representatives of Macmillan Cancer Support, one of the charities benefiting from the fund-raising trip.

Cllr Mayor presented the High Sheriff with a cheque for £1,207.59 for Macmillan, raised at a Fitness Extravaganza event held at the Manor Centre in Whittlesey earlier this year.

Mrs Fairbrother said: “My calves are telling me it was tougher than expected but it has been great fun walking through the Fens with my hat and feathers and of course my sword.

“In particular, it has been fascinating talking to the people of Wisbech and March about their background and lives and hopes for the future.

Wisbech Standard: Linda Fairbrother, the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, and 15 fellow walkers in Fenland for the first leg of her six-day, 70-mile “Coast to Cambridge’ charity trek.Linda Fairbrother, the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, and 15 fellow walkers in Fenland for the first leg of her six-day, 70-mile “Coast to Cambridge’ charity trek. (Image: Archant)

“It was great to arrive at Fenland Hall and be greeted with much needed refreshments as well as the giant cheque for more than £1,200 for Macmillan. It’s a fantastic amount.”

During the day 12 people accompanied her on the first leg, which took them on a winding, 12-mile trail from Wisbech. The deputy Mayor of Wisbech, Councillor David Hodgson, was there at the start to show his support and to get them on their way.

They were then joined at Friday Bridge by the Mayor of March, Councillor Kit Owen, and by another four walkers as they entered March.

Cllr Mayor said: “It was an ideal opportunity to hand over the money for Macmillan raised at the Manor and to demonstrate our support for the High Sheriff’s own fund-raising efforts. Good luck to her for the next 60 miles!”

Mrs Fairbrother is due to arrive in Cambridge on Thursday (July 17). She will have walked through Huntingdon, Peterborough and Ely en route to the city.

All the money raised by the trip will be shared between Macmillan and the High Sheriff Awards Scheme.

Any donations can be made online at www.justgiving.com/highsheriff or by cheque to High Sheriff Awards, Cambridge Community Foundation, Q1 The Quorum, Cambridge CB5 8RE.