Just after crossing the finish line of Alzheimer's Society's Trek26, Thomas Cruxton, from Stoke-on-Trent, got down on one knee and propped to his girlfriend.

Fellow fundraisers were delighted when Isabel Lewis, 26, from North Wales, said 'yes'.

Programme Manager Thomas said: "Isabel was daft enough to walk 26 miles with me. I realised that if we completed it, it would be a momentous day for us both. It's the only marathon Isabel will ever do – so I thought I would make it even more memorable."

The couple joined thousands of Alzheimer's Society supporters taking on the gruelling walking challenge across London on June 3 after witnessing the devasting impact of dementia first-hand. 

Thomas lost his father to Alzheimer's in 2015, two years he was diagnosed. Walking in memory of Thomas' dad, the couple raised an impressive £1,752 between them and will help fund Alzheimer's Society life-changing support services and cutting-edge research.

There are various fundraising walks happening this year and the charity is urging people to take part (Alzheimer's Society).

Isabel, a hospital pharmacist, met Thomas in 2016. Through her work she regularly comes into contact with people with dementia - which inspired her to take part.

While Isabel rested her legs after crossing the finish line, Thomas, who had an engagement ring hidden in his pocket, secretly approached an Alzheimer's Society photographer to tell him he was about to propose which meant the special moment was captured on camera.

Thomas said: "I wasn't nervous. It's been a matter of when, not if – we have spoken about engagement and the future.

"We were too tired to celebrate our engagement by going out in London that evening, but we had our own celebration eating pasta bake and phoning round friends and family telling them our news.

"Getting everyone's reaction was lovely. We were in pain from the walking, but we had the great feeling of having completed a marathon and the engagement took the edge off the pain."

To sign up for an epic 13 or 26 mile trek at breath-taking locations around the UK until September, visit the Alzheimer's Society website.

READ MORE: Local business wins free stall at Longton's first Food and Drink Festival

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.