A WELLINGTON hairdresser is set to walk along an iconic 630 mile coastal path in memory of her cousin who died of meningitis.

Alison Cooney, who works at Mount Hair Salon in Wellington, will be walking along the South West Coastal Path for 30 days from April 24 to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation.

The hairdresser is taking on the challenge in memory of her cousin, Julie Perkins, who died after a two day battle with meningitis aged 51 and said she hopes to raise more than £1,000 for the charity.

She said: "We sadly lost our cousin Julie to meningitis in 2018 and since her death we have done a number of fundraisers at the salon but I wanted to do something myself.

"I thought about it for a while and decided to take a month off work and walk along the South West Coastal Path to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation to help with the work they do.

"Each day I will be walking around 20 miles and will be stopping off at places along the way.

"Julie is my inspiration for doing this as I want to help pay for more research to be done to fight this disease.

"She complained one day that she felt under the weather and shortly after she was taken to hospital and put into a coma. She had meningitis and sadly died two days later and it is something I will never forget."

Alison said she has already raised £300 towards her £1,000 target and said she has been 'overwhelmed' by the generosity of people who have offered up their homes to her for free so she has somewhere to sleep during her trek.

She said is 'nervous' but excited to take on the challenge and urged people to donate to the charity.

"I have got the strongest mind going and can do anything I put my mind to through sheer determination," Alison said.

"I have been so moved by the generosity of people since I started this.

"People have said they will let me stay in their homes along the route for free, clients and people I work with have said they will join me on sections of the path along the way.

"A couple of hotels along the route have also given me discounts as I am doing this for charity which is amazing.

"I will be taking my scissors with me along the way in case anyone wants a haircut while I am on my travels.

"I have never done anything like this and I am really happy to be taking on this challenge to raise money for the charity in Julie's memory."

For more information or donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/alison-cooney2