A HAMPSHIRE woman is on a 100-mile hike to raise cash for a worthwhile cause.

Just days after her 57th birthday Judith Maleski is currently taking on the challenge in northern Spain.

Judith, from Highfield, Southampton, is taking on the trek in memory of her best friend and in tribute to the apostle St James to raise money for Cafod.

A parishioner at St Edmunds Catholic Church, in Southampton, as well as a private practitioner in psychotherapy, Judith will walk the last 100 miles of the Camino de Santiago – the way of St James.

Daily Echo:

This route, also known as ‘route of the stars’ because of its association with St James, will see her journey from Herrias de Valcare through to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, above, believed to be the resting place of the apostle St James.

She started the trek on Wednesday and hopes to complete the route on Wednesday.

So far she has raised £200, and h a s encouraged further donations on her Just Giving page.

She is no stranger to challenges, having prev i o u s l y climbed to the top of Macchu Picchu i n Peru.

Daily Echo:

Judith said: “I am undertaking this challenge to raise money for Cafod, a charity I have been supporting for many years.

“I climbed Macchu Picchu and that almost killed me! So this time I am doing the Camino route in memory of my friend, Sharon McGuon.

“I’m also raising money for CAFOD, who work tirelessly to campaign and give hope to some of the world’s poorest communities.

“I really admire St James, as he was one of the apostles who went out and made a difference, so I want to be following in his footsteps.

“I have been training by walking up Hengistbury Head in Bournemouth and back again. I’m really nervous but really excited too.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/Judith-Maleski.