Travelling as a biking, piping Viking in son's memory

When Terry Forster's son Adam died from a brain tumour, he vowed to raise thousands of pounds to help find a cure.

"Watching my son fight that and not being able to save him broke something in me, my world changed forever," he said.

What started as a unique way to cover over stilts for a sponsored walk has turned into seven years of travelling around the North East and Cumbria with his friends, sharing his story and music, while dressed as a Viking and raising more than £80,000 for charity.

He said his son, who died in 2014 aged 42, would not have been surprised "at all" to see him don the costume and entertain the crowds.

The 76-year-old farmer founded The Biking Vikings North East in 2019.

The group of motorcycle-riding, pipe and drum-playing Vikings have raised thousands of pounds for brain tumour research by putting on performances and talks across the region.

Forster said he and Adam "used to get up to all sorts of daft tricks, so he wouldn't have been surprised at all" to know how they were raising funds.

The friends have played at events like the Northumberland County Show, Skelton Show in Penrith and dementia cafes in Darlington.

Drums are set out for passers-by to get involved, and their performance fees and donations on the day all go to the charity Brain Tumour Research.

Forster and his son worked together on their farm near Shotley Bridge, County Durham "every day for 22 years of his working life", he said.

"He spent his happiest days working the land and caring for his animals, his courage during his illness touched everyone who knew him," Forster said.

Adam passed away in May 2014, just 11 months after his glioblastoma diagnosis.

Forster originally set out to raise £50,000 for the research charity. He started by learning how to walk on stilts and attempting to travel one mile (1.6km) while playing the bagpipes.

He thought he needed something to cover the stilts and settled on a Viking costume. He then convinced friends to dress up and play their instruments during the walk.

"Raised a canny bit of money on the day, but it just snowballed," he said, adding they had since raised £86,794.

Member Liz Bailey, 63, said performing in Viking furs on hot days was hard work, but "we just love every minute".

"The best thing is watching the children as they drum along with huge beaming faces," she said.

"We can also see the parents smiling at their own children or dancing or clapping along."

She said the crew were trying to keep Forster off the stilts after a health warning last year, but he "keeps threatening to get back up".

Forster said he, his daughter and granddaughters, who also organised fundraisers like charity balls and auctions for the charity, were now aiming to raise £100,000 for the cause.

"Through this fundraising we hope to honour Adam's life, keep his memory alive and help bring hope to other families facing the same heartbreaking journey," he said.

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