A Sidcup family has raised more that £15k for Macmillan Cancer Support walking along London bridges.

Wendy Seers, 49, lost her mother, Dot, to ovarian cancer in 2001.

A few years after losing her mother Wendy began completing an annual fundraising walk along the Thames with her father, Brian Herman, 71, and teenage children, Kye, 17, and Reece, 15, to help boost vital cancer support services provided by the charity.

This weekend will mark 14 years of crossing London's iconic bridges with her father and two sons, notching up an astonishing 200 miles as they crisscross England's most well-known waterway to say thank you to Macmillan Cancer Support for the support they received.

The walk has grown in popularity each year, and this time round will take place on September 15.

Organisers welcome sign-ups both in advance and on the day.

Dot’s death left a gaping hole in the Herman family when she passed away in 2001 aged 52, just 18 months after being told by doctors that her cancer was incurable.

A larger than life character who would do ‘anything and everything’ to protect her family, Dot was adored and respected both at home and at Boxgrove Primary School in Greenwich, where she supported her husband Brian in his work as Premises Manager.

Wendy, who is an Early Years practitioner in Blackheath said: “After Mum got her diagnosis, the following months were devastating. Knowing the outcome, watching her deteriorate from the Mum we once knew and loved into this frightened, weak, frail shell of a woman was heart breaking.

“The worst emotion that one can experience when watching a loved one come to the end of their life is that of helplessness and that's exactly what we felt. Completely helpless.”

Following her death, Wendy and Brian were determined to help other people affected by cancer receive the care and support they deserved, so Brian devised a walk based on the areas he explored as a child, growing up in Bermondsey.

Wendy said: “It seemed the least we could do after all the support Macmillan had given us. And I wanted my boys – then 8 and 6 - to understand the importance of helping others and the struggles they endured. They have never missed a walk in 9 years.”

Setting off from Tower Bridge and winding their way down to Vauxhall, walkers of all ages will make 18 river crossings in total and are encouraged to take the route at their own pace.

Participants are required to pay just £10 to take part, with any further fundraising being optional.

Since the annual trek began in 2005, over £15,000 has been raised to boost vital cancer support services across the UK, where over 2.5m people are currently living with and beyond cancer.

Judy Spence, Area Fundraising Manager for London said: “Macmillan Cancer Support understands that cancer can affect every part of your life, not just your health. That’s why the charity is right there to provide practical information about cancer, but also to advise on treatment and help patients with money worries and emotional concerns. Macmillan relies almost entirely on public donations for support, so can only continue to help the growing number of people impacted by cancer because of fundraisers like the London Bridges Walk.

“Just £140 could pay for a Macmillan grant to help cover a patient’s cancer treatment travel costs. While £204 could pay for a Macmillan nurse for a day, to provide people living with cancer with essential physical, financial and emotional support. So, it’s thanks to the continued support and generosity of participants that Macmillan can continue to be right there with anyone impacted by cancer.”

To find out more about the London Bridges Walk and secure your place please email londonbridgeswalk@talktalk.net or call 07458007758.