A family are linking up across the Atlantic to take part in a walk and cycle challenge to raise money for a hospice.

Lisa Kennedy from Darwen will be joined in walking the equivalent of three marathons with her family living in England and Oaklahoma, coming together to raise money for Derian House Children's Hospice.

Along with her parents, Moira and Thomas Kennedy, Mrs Kennedy's sister Kathleen White who lives in Oklahoma, America, will cycle her marathon on June 28 while sister Mary Green will take to walking her part of the marathon in London.

The complementary therapist and her family are raising money for the children's Hospice, which is close to their hearts as Mrs Kennedy has often worked there.

Mrs White's children, 10-year-old Callum and eight-year-old Bodhi White are also joining their parents in a four mile cycle around a lake near their home in Oaklahoma.

Mrs Kennedy said: "All of us in England are going to walk while my sister in America will cycle with her family.

"We have been walking independently anyway, so we thought why not do a challenge to include all of us.

"My mum and dad are doing it with us and they are both 75-years-old, but they are so keen on joining us and will walk around four to five miles in Darwen."

The family have been forced to contact each other only digitally, where normally they would meet.

Mrs Kennedy said: "I think this is also a way for everyone to keep their spirits high as well.

"This is a way for us all to connect together for a good cause especially as we can't be together.

"Usually, my sister Kathleen would visit us in the year, so this is something for us to come together for even though they are so far away."

They need funds at the moment because a lot of their fundraising events have been cancelled.

So far, they have raised £400 and still have time to raise more.

A large part of Mes Kennedy's work was on site massages and meditation throughout the North West, including at Derian House.

All of this work has stopped for and now she is doing online classes teaching people how to relax.

The lockdown has had a silver lining for the massage therapist as she has been able to do things for the community as well as spend time with her family.

To support their marathons visit their Just Giving Page.