Carlos and Julie Fernandes take on an 84 mile challenge to walk Hadrian’s Wall for Bruno.

THE parents of Honiton teenager Bruno Fernandes, who died suddenly, have honoured their son’s memory by completing a mammoth walk along the length of Hadrian’s Wall.

Carlos, 48, and his wife Julie, 44, who run the Heathfield Inn and the Red Cow, took on the 84 mile challenge earlier this month to raise money for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).

The publicans were joined by friends and Red Cow customers Catherine and James Dodd and Sharon and Timothy Rowbotham.

The group started their journey on Sunday, June 5, from Bowness-on-Solway, in Cumbria, and finished their trek in Newcastle on Friday.

Carlos, who was given the nickname Speedy on the trek, said: “We didn’t know what to expect. You see the pictures, but you can’t tell how steep it is.

“A lot of people only walk sections of the wall, not all of it.”

The couple had wanted to do a fund-raising event before their son’s sudden death, but were spurred on even more to do something to celebrate Bruno’s life.

Tributes are still being paid to the 17-year-old on Facebook, who died in March.

The comments are a comfort to his family.

Julie said: “It was nice, because we were doing it for charity and for Bruno.

“The walk was a good way to honour Bruno and I am really pleased we managed to do it. It is nice to think we can help other people by doing this.”

The couple told the Midweek Herald that the most gruelling part of the journey was the middle section of the wall, but the group soldiered on - despite some members suffering with blisters,

Along the way, they encountered challenges from the surrounding wildlife as they were stopped in their tracks by a stubborn horse and a ram that refused to move from a gate.

It took six days for the group to complete the trek, although Carlos admits it was a bit of an anti-climax once they reached the end of the wall.

He said: “On the Saturday, I just thought we don’t have to walk any more - what are we going to do?”

So far, the fund-raising walk has raised more than �1,000 and money is still coming in.

Carlos and Julie are planning to do another walk, but Julie admits she is looking to do one a bit closer to home next time .

She said: “We are thinking about doing more walks and are planning to do a walk of the Jurassic Coast.”

The couple wishes to thank everyone for their generous support.

Anyone willing to make a donation to CRY can do so at the Heathfield Inn or the Red Cow.