A woman has completed a 75-mile walk in just two days to help repair the heating system at her local parish church in Stoke-on-Trent, raising more than £1,200 toward the estimated £7,000 cost.

Katie Simpson set out from Christ Church, a Grade II-listed building in Fenton, earlier this month to her family's caravan in Prestatyn, Wales, with an overnight stop in Chester. She was joined for the full distance by her sister-in-law, Chenesse.

Simpson said she has a particular affection for Christ Church after the congregation welcomed her when looking for a place to conduct her same-sex wedding to her wife and had been rejected from other venues. 

"We were turned away by quite a few," she said. "Being in a same-sex relationship, I didn't think we'd get much love, but everyone has been so welcoming."

Speaking to the BBC, Simpson said: "I was very naive… the walk was a lot, a lot physically and emotionally."

She said it took its toll and that her body went into "shock" when she tried to stand after the long days.

"I got up on day two and nearly threw the towel in," Simpson said. "We were exhausted, we were in pain." She credited the encouragement of family members, who were waiting to greet her and Chenesse upon their arrival in Prestatyn, with helping her finish. "I can't believe how much support we got and how it got us through it," she said.

The money raised will go toward repairing the church's flue pipe, a vent that safely expels gases from the heating system, before winter sets in.

Church organist Ben Barrs said the repairs are costly given the age of the building, but are essential ahead of colder months.

"We're all so thankful for the wonderful donation we're going to get," Barrs said. "We'll see the benefits of this in the autumn and winter."