A GRIEVING son is paying tribute to his mother by taking on a gruelling 40-mile walk.

Daniel Evans took on the challenge of walking from Bishop Auckland to South Shields to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society after he lost his mum, Christine Evans, in August.

Mrs Evans, 66, lived with Lewy Bodies Dementia, a rarer form of the condition which shares symptoms with both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, for about six years.

The mother-of-three, of Shildon, battled with the “soul-destroying” condition with the help of her husband David, before being moved to Barrington Lodge Care Home, in Bishop Auckland, two years ago.

Now Mr Evans, who also lost his father just after Mrs Evans moved to Barrington Lodge, said he and his family hope to give something back to the charity to remember them.

Mr Evans, who carried a photograph of his parents with him on the walk, was joined by friends, Stephen Hunt, Chris Robinson, Michael Carter, Becky Pacewitch and Ian Porritt.

The team set off from Barrington Lodge yesterday morning for the walk which will also see them complete the charity's annual 7km Memory Walk in South Shields today.

Mr Evans, 36, said: "Mam was a really kind and considerate person. It's been very difficult to see her decline in so many ways but we kept positive because she could still smile and still knew who we were."

He added: "I think she would be over the moon that we are doing something for auch a good cause - I think she would be smiling down on us."

The team have already raised £920. To sponsor them visit justgiving.com/fundraising/daniel-evans49