A CHARITY walker has honoured one of his friends with a hike around one of the region’s top racecourses.

Londoner Richard Farquhar celebrated the life of friend Andy Gray, from Hurworth, near Darlington, who died from pancreatic cancer on October 29 by completing a circuit of Sedgefield racecourse with Mr Gray’s family.

He dedicated the latest leg of his UK walking tour – which takes in all of the nation’s racecourses and the 3,000 miles between them - to the man he met at Sedgefield Racecourse in April this year.

Mr Gray contacted him to ask if he could join the walk from Sedgefield Racecourse to Redcar Racecourse after reading a newspaper article about him.

The 49-year-old, originally from Marske, east Cleveland, was diagnosed two and a half years ago with pancreatic cancer and at the time was warned he may only have weeks left to live.

The pair walked together three times and had earmarked today’s Sedgefield’s meeting as their next get-together. Sadly Mr Gray died less than two weeks ago.

“I genuinely believe that he lived so long after diagnosis because of his attitude and his determination, said Mr Farquhar. "He fought and fought and fought. He was just amazing. He was an inspiration.”

The marathon 13 month hike, which began in April, is called Walking the Courses and will be completed by the Old Etonian in aid of charities, Pancreatic Cancer UK and Racing Welfare.

He was inspired to undertake the mammoth fundraising challenge after losing his own father, Peter, to pancreatic cancer in 2012. Given both father and son’s lifelong passion for racing, the 53-year-old decided he wanted to involve all of the nation’s racecourses in his nationwide trek.

The walk will continue until May, 2016. For details visit walkingthecourses.com.