A BUSINESS owner has completed a mammoth walking challenge in support of her friend.

Jo Pisamai Lewis, who owns Touch of Elegance in Penarth, walked 48 miles around the island of Jersey in 17 hours and 30 minutes to raise money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

Jo's friend, Linda Hurst, was diagnosed with Leukaemia five years ago but thanks to the "amazing care" she received at the University Hospital of Wales, she is now in full remission.

She underwent chemotherapy in June 2014 and was back at home by September of that year.

Jo and Linda have known each other for about eight years

The Collis Crill walk is notoriously difficult but Jo has been described as fit and active and is willing to take on any challenge.

The walk saw around 1,700 people start - and as it celebrated its 25th anniversary this year - Jo was determined to be one of them.

She set off at 2.30am, she had to cope with a vast variety of terrain including steep drops and rises which took their toll on her.

Despite the 13 stops along the way providing drinks, she was determined not to stop for too long as it would have hindered her progress.

Jo said: "I wanted to do something to help Linda and the charity because what she has gone through is much harder than this walk.

"I wanted to come home and tell everyone that I had done it and so that kept me going."

Linda said: "I never thought in a million years she would finish it. She should be very proud of herself. If anyone was going to do it, it was going to be Jo."

It is an even more remarkable achievement given the fact that Jo was originally only intending to walk for six hours.

The total amount raised currently stands at around £2,500 from Jo's clients alone and there are donations still coming in.

Jo plans to walk around Guernsey next year which involves a slightly shorter walk of 38 miles and, having trekked through the Nepalese mountains, is also intending to complete the Inca trail in Peru.