Rutland care home resident pledges to walk 30 miles in November for Cancer Research UK
A woman has discovered new parts of her community while taking part in a charity walking challenge.
Care home resident Marianne Haylett signed up to walk 30 miles during November as part of a Cancer Research UK campaign.
The 86-year-old uses a walking aid since having two hip replacements but hasn’t let that or her other health condition hold her back.
Two years ago Marianne was diagnosed with transient epileptic amnesia after suffering seizures. The condition causes memory loss of things such as family events.
She said: “It was tricky at first and upsetting not to remember things, but it is what it is. I’ve come to terms with it now and if there’s something I can’t remember, I just ask people to tell me.
“I’m doing this challenge because I don’t think there’s a single family in the country that doesn’t know someone affected by cancer. I’ve had friends and family myself who have died from it.
“I can’t walk without my rollator because I’ve got a couple of new hips so I’m not that fast but I do my best to plod along.”
The fundraising campaign challenges participants to walk one mile a day, although Marianne is keen to make the most of the mild weather and has managed to get some extra miles under her belt to avoid any potential snowfall later in the month.
Within the first five days of the challenge she clocked up 13 miles.
Marianne is also using the challenge as a way to explore new parts of Oakham, having moved to the county a few years ago to be closer to family, although not all of the places she has visited were intentional.
She said: “I ended up at the turning to Egleton the other day. I wasn’t supposed to but I’m not very familiar with the app I’m using so I just kept walking.”
Marianne set a fundraising target of £50 but has already raised £145. Donations can be made online or delivered to Crown House in Crown Walk, Oakham, where she lives.
Are you taking part in a charity challenge? Send the details to news@lincsonline.co.uk
