A TRIUMPHANT procession of friends, family and campaigners whose lives were touched by Oxford teenager Connor Sparrowhawk will arrive in Spain this month.

The 'Camino LB' will see about 15 people – and a dog and a cardboard bus – walking 100 miles through northern Spain in memory of the 18-year-old, nicknamed 'Laughing Boy', who died in July 2013 under the care of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Mother Sara Ryan said she hoped the seven-day trek would shine a light on the plight of people with learning disabilities in the UK.

She said: "It is to raise awareness of the conditions learning-disabled people live with and let more people know about what has happened.

"It will show that learning-disabled people can do joyful things and show what people can do, as opposed to what they can't."

Connor, who had autism and a learning difficulty, drowned after suffering an epileptic fit at the trust's Slade House unit in Headington, Oxford.

Artwork for the 'Justice for LB' campaign that sprang up calling for accountability at Southern Health included a giant patchwork quilt and the cardboard bus.

Dr Ryan said: "Connor absolutely loved buses from the moment he was born. We have mountains of Diecast models and piles of bus magazines.

"The day he died he was meant to be going with Oxford Bus Company for a tour. It is poignant that he never got there, but that was probably what he was thinking about."

Walkers will begin the journey, which follows a section of the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrims' route, from Santilla Del Mar on Thursday, October 27.

They will then follow the Northern coast of Spain to Aviles, where a festival and celebration of Connor's life is being held by Learning Disability England in December.

People encountered on the way are encouraged to ask questions and interact with the bus. It has been restored and will have a tarpaulin at the ready in case of rain.

Candles will be lit for Connor on November 1 for All Saints' Day: a public holiday in Spain to remember deceased relatives and loved ones.

Dr Ryan added: "It's a celebratory thing. We are training every day so hopefully it won't be too tortuous.

"There are some bits of the walk on the coast, areas of spectacular beauty."

Representatives from Oxford learning disability charity My Life My Choice will be joining for the final three days after the charity crowdfunded more than £2,000.

Trustee Paul Scarrott said: "I'm really terrified of flying but it will be an adventure and I think it's the first time someone with a learning disability has done anything like it.

"It's really important and it's given me confidence because I'm doing something for Justice for LB."

The journey will be documented on Twitter using the #CaminoLB hashtag and on the campaign's website, justiceforlb.org