Rosie starts her birthday the energetic way to supporters' cheers

Rosie, who lives in Pembrokeshire, became a household name when she crossed the Atlantic alone in a 17ft boat.

Now she is aiming to complete a global jog - in the space of two years.

She has taken on the challenge to raise funds for a Russian children's home in Kitezh, and to increase awareness of prostate cancer after the death of her husband, Clive Pope.

As well as sailing around the world, she has completed a 3,000-mile horse trek through Chile and a run across the Sahara desert.

Harsh

Her journey started in her hometown of Tenby on her birthday on Thursday, and she will run through numerous countries, aiming to make Russia by New Year's Day.

She describes her chosen route as "the coldest, hardest, most fascinating way".

It includes almost 7,000 miles of Russia and Siberia. She will cross Europe through Holland, Germany, Poland and Moscow, before hitting the Trans Siberian Railway route.

Then it will be on to the Bering Straits, Alaska, America, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Scotland and England, before returning to the start and finishing line at Tenby.

It's been a long-held dream but I'm doing it for my husband Rosie Swale Pope

Rosie's journey will be a low-budget one - without the luxury of a back-up team - and she will carry her belongings in a 15-kilo rucksack.

Before she set off, Rosie said packing her bag well was vitally important.

"Everything has to be not only in there but properly packed, and there's such a lot of it," she said.

"Everything has to be packed safely so it doesn't carve designs in my back bone"

Rosie started running when she was 48 by taking part in a local race in Tenby.

She was one of the last to finish.

She said: "I'm not a gifted athlete but if things are a struggle you feel better when you get there.

"It's been a long-held dream but I'm doing it for my husband"

She said she was looking forward to it, but would miss everyone back home.

"I think the most important thing I'll be taking with me is the love and caring which thank god doesn't weigh anything.

"I'll miss the people I love and Tenby and Wales.