HINDHEAD charity fundraiser Jeanette Bolt joined her brother as he completed an 800-mile Italian trek – raising funds for research into brain tumours in memory of her “funny, gentle” son Alex.

Jeanette and husband Peter set up The Alex Bolt Fund to raise money for research after their son, a cricket fan who loved science and wanted to be a doctor, lost his life to brain cancer, aged 16 in 2011.

The initiative has raised more than £760,000 to date.

Jeanette completed 150 miles for the last stretch of her brother Stephen Scutcher’s challenge, and he is on course to raise £25,000 for The St James’ Palace Foundation, which will match fund The Alex Bolt Fund.

He was inspired by Jeanette walking the 500-mile Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage in Spain two years ago – and decided to do his own marathon fundraiser to mark his 50th birthday, instead of having a big party.

Stephen started the seven-week trek on September 12 along with his boxer dog, Bula, who was with him for the entire route.

Jeanette said: “No parent ever thinks their child is going to die before them. We all miss him every day but he’ll always be in our hearts and part of our family.

“Stephen absolutely adored his nephew and wanted to do something special for our fund.”

“I found doing the Camino pilgrimage very therapeutic and it was even more so walking with my brother.”