A woman who lost her best friend to cancer is urging people to take part in a marathon walk to raise awareness of the disease.

Laurie Meister, from Enfield, whose mate Lorraine Lodge died in 2013 after a three-year fight with ovarian cancer, aged 52, is promoting “A Walk to Remember” in the Chilterns on September 24, in aid of women’s cancer research charity The Eve Appeal.

The event sees participants to walk either a 26-mile or 13-mile route, whether they have a personal experience of cancer, or it has effected family or friends.

There are five types of gynaecological cancer: womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal. According to The Eve Appeal, every day in the UK, 55 women are diagnosed with one of these cancers, and 21 will die.

Ms Meister, who took part in last year’s walk with fellow members of her book club, said: “It was a fantastic opportunity for family and friends to get together for a very powerful and moving experience.

“It was a personal challenge walking a marathon in a day, but for someone who was so near and dear to us, there was a sense of community within our group and fellow walkers as we were all walking for women affected by gynaecological cancers.

“We are taking part in the challenge again this year in Lorraine’s memory – but to also meet others who have been impacted by a diagnosis of a gynaecological cancer. I’d implore those who want to get involved that even if you’re a lone walker, don’t be afraid of the challenge, as you will certainly not be alone.”

The 26-mile route will start and end in Little Missenden, a village in Buckinghamshire, and pass through the Preston Nature Reserve, Princes Risborough, the Chiltern Hills, and round the outskirts of High Wycombe.

Athena Lamnisos, chief executive of The Eve Appeal, said: “We’re absolutely delighted and incredibly grateful to Laurie for supporting us and raising vital awareness of these often little-talked about and under-profiled causes.

“Without women such as Laurie we would not be able to fund the world-class research into early detection and prevention of these brutal cancers. We want to build on those powerful, personal experiences of women taking part in the walk, in order to make a difference for women of today and the future.”

To sign up, visit www.eveappeal.org.uk/chiltern.