A Blackburn woman is taking on a walking challenge this month, in memory of her father who was part of the D-Day landings, on June 6, 1944.

Nicola Blackledge, from Blackburn, and other members of the Royal British Legion (RBL) are walking 80km throughout June to raise funds for the veteran charity.

She is taking on the challenge despite numerous health issues and has already raised £125, beating her £100 target, and the fundraiser can be found online.

The walk is 80km long, symbolising the length of all five Normandy beaches where the Allied forces made their historic invasion.

Lancashire Telegraph: Nicola Dawson with celebrated war veteran Ken BenbowNicola Dawson with celebrated war veteran Ken Benbow (Image: Nicola Dawson) It also marks 80 years since the landings, which saw the start of the final Second World War campaign to liberate Western Europe and defeat the Nazis.

Nicola, who now lives in Baxenden, said: “I am part of a group called the RBLI. Quite a few of us across the country will be walking 80km throughout June, which is the distance between the five beaches in Normandy.

“I am inspired by my dad’s service, who was a Normandy landings veteran.”

Nicola’s dad, Harry Blackledge, shared his D-Day story with her before he died in 1995, aged 75.

Harry enlisted in the Royal Signals and trained in Prestatyn, Wales. Nicola said a series of coincidences saved his life while at war in Normandy.

She said: “Due to the bad weather, his deployment on the boats was delayed – which [we believe] saved his life because the first day was just an onslaught.”

His landing craft brought Harry and his comrades towards Juno Beach.

She said: “A lot of people trying to get off the boats drowned with the weight of their burgeons and couldn’t swim. Dad couldn’t swim but managed to float ashore.

“Getting over the beaches with all the mines was a stroke of luck.

“They were exhausted but had to dig trenches to bury the dead, which turned out to save their lives again as they dove into these trenches when they were being shot at.

“When they were in an orchard my dad was hiding behind a tree and his friends either side of him got shot. He was saved by the tree.”

Fighting came to an end on VE Day, May 8, 1945, and Harry was one of the lucky soldiers able to go home following the conflict, in which 383,700 British troops died.

Nicola said: “His stories were just phenomenal. On the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings, he received a medal.

“I think it’s really important to remember our history. I am so proud to have had a hero for a father.

“He was a working-class man and a plumbing and heating engineer who used to lecture at Blackburn College.

"He worked every day of his life and everybody knew who he was. You couldn’t go anywhere without somebody knowing my dad.

“He was a larger-than-life character who loved playing golf and football.”

Nicola’s sister and nephew, Nina and Bradley Johnson, are currently in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

To donate to Nicola’s fundraiser visit www.socialsync.app or visit the RBLI’s Just Giving page called ‘RBLI's D-Day 80 Challenge 2024’.