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On the buses for pensioners' charity pilgrimage

Martin Heath
BBC News, Northamptonshire
Martin Heath/BBC Nick with short white hair and Kerstin with short blonde hair wearing grey sweatshirts and backpacks with Harry's Pals leaflets attached. They are seen from the back entering a bus via folding electric doors.Martin Heath/BBC
Nick and Kerstin Banham caught their first bus in Daventry

A couple have set off on a charity pilgrimage to the most westerly point of mainland England - using 18 buses.

Nick and Kerstin Banham, from Little Brington, near Northampton, hope their quest will raise awareness of a charity for parents of children with serious illnesses.

They will be using their pensioners' bus passes, which allow them to board only local buses rather than long-distance coaches

Hayley Charlesworth, who set up the charity, Harry's Pals, said Mr and Mrs Banham were "both absolutely incredible".

The challenge got off to a shaky start when the first bus on their journey, from Daventry to Banbury, Oxfordshire, was late.

The 25-minute window for catching the next bus to Oxford was gradually diminishing, but they made it.

In any case, Mr Banham's meticulous planning over several months had included built-in contingencies to address any delays.

Martin Heath/BBC Nick and Kerstin wearing grey sweatshirts and backpacks standing in a queue for a bus, which has arrived. A woman in a pink coat is ahead of them and about to step on to the vehicle. There are two other passengers behind Mr and Mrs Banham. A bus shelter with glass and red frames is behind them.Martin Heath/BBC
The route has been planned so the couple know the times of every bus and the bays they need to find

Harry's Pals was set up by Ms Charlesworth, from Newnham, after her son was born with significant brain damage, caused by two strokes.

She said: "We were told that Harry would likely have profound disabilities and then we were just told to go home and get on with it.

"There was just no emotional support for us, and I just couldn't believe that."

Martin Heath/BBC Hayley Charlesworth with long brown hair smiling at the camera. She is wearing a green coat with a furry hood and a light green top. There is a red-framed glass bus shelter behind her. There is a shopping trolley to the left.Martin Heath/BBC
Hayley Charlesworth, who set up Harry's Pals, was at Daventry bus station to see the couple off

The charity provides counselling and therapy as well as short breaks for families.

Mrs Banham, 72, said: "I don't think any of us ever think about what it would be like if we had a child who was seriously ill.

"Just knowing that there was no support for parents in that situation is what's driving us."

Martin Heath/BBC A route plan in black ink on white paper. It shows departure points, destinations, bus companies, bus numbers, bay numbers, and departure and arrival times.Martin Heath/BBC
The route has been planned in great detail, with timings for each of the 18 buses

Mr Banham, who will celebrate his 83rd birthday on a bus on Tuesday, said there had been "an awful lot of planning" for the challenge.

"It was an absolute nightmare trying to put it all together," he said.

"When you get further down into parts of Exmoor and Dartmoor, you find some of the buses don't go where you want them to and, if you do find a bus that's going in the right direction, there's probably only two a day."

Martin Heath/BBC Nick and Kerstin wearing grey sweatshirts labelled "Pensioners' Pilgrimage" and "Harry's Pals". Nick has short white hair while Kerstin has short blonde hair. They are both wearing backpacks. Kerstin is showing their bus passes to the camera. There is a large bus turnaround area in the background.Martin Heath/BBC
The couple will be using their bus passes, which are valid on only local buses

The challenge is expected to take four days, with the couple staying overnight at pubs or with relatives.

Ms Charlesworth said: "I think they're both absolutely incredible.

"It's 18 buses, lots of waiting round, the weather's looking a bit rainy and it's cold, and they've got very heavy backpacks on.

"It's no mean feat."

Martin Heath/BBC A white, orange and red Stagecoach bus. Nick and Kerstin are sitting in the last seats before the tiered section at the rear of the bus. They are waving to the camera. There is an elderly lady in a seat in front of them, and another in a seat behind them.Martin Heath/BBC
Mr Banham will celebrate his 83rd birthday on board a bus

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