104-year-old Grandmother from Newbury walks a marathon
104-year-old Ruth Saunders usually raises money for Thames Valley Air Ambulance with a coffee morning - but the coronavirus pandemic meant she had to think of a different way this year.
She says takes up the story:
"I couldn't think what to do this year because you can't do anything! I was out having a little walk when I suddenly thought of 'Sir Tom' and said to myself 'if he can do it, I can do it'.
Originally Ruth decided to complete 104 trips round the block but a suggestion from a family member turned it into a marathon distance of 26.2 miles. Each walk around the block near her home in Newbury is a fifth of a mile.
Ruth set a target of £3000 and started her challenge in early September. Nearly 2 months later and she's still walking but her original target is far behind her.
"At the moment it (the target) stands at almost £27,000. It kind of takes your breath away when you think about it, but it's not stopping at £27,000 it's going up and up.
She expects to complete her marathon walk next month and says nothing will stop her:
"I've got arthritis in my left leg very bad and sometimes I think when I start 'ooh I shouldn't be doing this' but by the time I've been round my walk my leg doesn't hurt, it's the exercise.
She continued:
" Thames Valley Air Ambulance is a cause that is very close to my heart. I’ve been supporting the charity ever since my son broke his leg in three places and needed emergency medical treatment. It’s an amazing life-saving service for our community. I’m just doing what I can to support them."
Amanda McLean, Chief Executive of Thames Valley Air Ambulance, said:
"Ruth is an inspiration to us all. As a charity, Thames Valley Air Ambulance relies solely on the amazing fundraising efforts of people like Ruth so that we can provide our life saving services to the most critically ill and injured people. We are so lucky to have such a passionate and awe-inspiring supporter.”
You can support Ruth at her justgiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ruthsaunders104