FRIENDS of widowed Crosland Moor mum Roxie Castillo held a sponsored walk to raise cash to help her face the future.

Roxie - who is eight months pregnant - lost her husband Arnulfo Antonio Castillo Almonte in January.

Arnulfo, 21, died in a motorbike crash while visiting his family in Luperon, in the Dominican Republic.

Roxie, 21, of Walpole Road, is now facing the task of raising their 19-month-old daughter Ashanti-Del alone - as well as preparing for the birth of their second daughter this month.

Her friend, Niki Trepak, launched an appeal to help Roxie get essential items for the new baby's arrival.

The people of Huddersfield responded generously, giving baby clothes, a cot, a pram and other equipment.

She also received badly-needed new carpets for her house.

Then Niki switched the appeal's focus to finding cash to help Roxie through the coming months.

To kick off her fundraising campaign, she organised a sponsored walk, which took place on Saturday.

She and eight relatives and friends walked from the Co-op on Blackmoorfoot Road in Crosland Moor to Greenhead Park.

They went via Thornton Lodge and Longroyd Bridge.

The walk raised about £100, which is to be put towards a headstone for Arnulfo.

He is buried in Luperon - but because of her pregnancy Roxie was unable to fly to attend his funeral last month.

She plans to visit his grave in spring, with Ashanti-Del and her new daughter.

Roxie and Arnulfo met in the Dominican Republic in 2002.

She was on holiday and he was an entertainer at the hotel where she stayed.

They married the following March after a long-distance romance and in July 2003, Arnulfo moved to Huddersfield to be with Roxie.

He got a job as a welder at Elland company Pressure Tubes and was working hard to support his family.

Niki is hoping her fundraising efforts can help see Roxie through the tough months ahead.

She said: "Roxie is not doing too bad. She is as good as you can be when you have just lost your husband.

"But the new baby is coming soon and that is something to focus on.

"She has everything she needs for the baby now, but we are trying to raise finances now to help her in the future."