A Glasgow man walked from France to Spain after both he and his wife both battled cancer.

Graham Reid was diagnosed with lymphoma just six months after his wife Jane learned she had bowel cancer.

After they were both treated by the Beatson Centre, Graham wanted to give something back to those who helped him as well as take on a huge challenge.

To raise funds for the Beatson, the insurance industry worker decided to embark on the Camino de Santiago trek, a mighty pilgrimage from the French Pyrenees to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain.

Glasgow Times:

The 72-year-old said: “My fascination with the Camino de Santiago trek started 12 years ago.

"Sister Margaretta from the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, who are based in Lennoxton near Glasgow and were clients of mine, told me that the 100-mile West Highland Way walk from Glasgow to Fort William, which I completed, was ‘chicken feed’ in comparison to Camino de Santiago!

"Her comment niggled away at me over the years, and I thought I better give it a go before I got any older!”

Graham flew to Paris in September and started walking the 775km trek over a 45-day period, walking through major cities and across difficult terrain and staying at 40 hotels during his journey. 

He would walk between 15 and 20 miles per day depending on the conditions - and made sure to treat himself to a few beers at the end of a long day of trekking. 

With a JustGiving page, Graham raised £6000 and this was matched by his employer TL Dallas, taking the total to an incredible £12,000. 

He added: “I don’t like asking people for money, but my colleague Lorraine Scott created a Just Giving page and I am very grateful to her, and to all of those family members, friends, colleagues, clients and business associates who have been so generous.

"We have raised just over £6,000 for Beatson Cancer and TL Dallas match-funded that amount, so a further £6,000 will go to the firm’s Charitable Trust, which helps many other fabulous charities across the country.”

Glasgow Times:

Reflecting back on his unique experience, Graham enjoyed it so much he is already planning the next challenge.

He said: "Even though I walked alone, I met some fascinating people along the way – lots of Americans and Europeans, all with interesting tales to tell.

“Each night I enjoyed what was called a ‘pilgrim’s meal’. The food was fantastic and great value at around 15 to 20 euros for a three-course meal and bottle of wine!

"No day was ever the same and I was lucky not to have any injuries – just tired legs and feet.

"I completed the walk at the end of October and would highly recommend it. So much so, that I plan to go back and complete a final section, known as the Camino Finisterre, which is a 90km trail from Santiago to Finisterre, on the western coast of Spain, in spring.

"This will take me to what pilgrims believed was the ‘end of the world’, which is the furthest west point on mainland Europe.”

Donations can still be given here.