Cheltenham law firm BPE Solicitors showed their support for a near 300-mile fundraising challenge in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Fifty employees from the company joined a party of hardy souls walking the 297-mile Macmillan Way as it passed through Gloucestershire.

Every day across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, 26 people will hear the devastating news that they have cancer, and 12 people will die from the illness.

The Macmillan Way Challenge is being organised by BPE Solicitors and spearheaded by Rob Bryan, who lost his mum to cancer.

He said: "Macmillan nurses made a profound difference to the way my mum and family experienced cancer.

"Their gentle reassurance and compassion made an incredibly tough journey that bit more manageable, but the costs associated with employing and training new nurses are considerable.

"I hope that by raising the £108,000 needed to fund two new positions, we would make a huge positive difference to a family like mine."

Along the course of the Macmillan Way, which runs from Lincolnshire to Dorset, the walkers will visit many local cricket grounds.

Organisers have managed to garner the support of nine major county cricket clubs along the route, including Gloucestershire CCC, which has donated prizes for a silent auction in aid of the charity.

Will Brown, Gloucestershire CCC's CEO said: "We are proud to be supporting the Macmillan Way Challenge and hope that our fans can dig into their pockets to help raise the £108,000 needed to fund two new Macmillan nurses."

Picture: left to right, Rob Bryan, Sarah Dent, George Dale, John Russell, Jennifer Charlton, Rebecca Dorrington, Rosanna Brown from BPE Solicitors on the walk