Great-grandmother evokes spirit of Captain Sir Tom Moore with fundraising walk
She's attempting to complete 5k a day in March - aged 95!
A great-grandmother from the Scottish Borders is attempting to walk 5k a day during the month of March - just weeks after turning 95 - so women and girls in some of the some of the poorest countries on the planet don't have to.
Sara Wilmut, who lives near Peebles, is raising money for WaterAid - a charity which helps provide clean water for people in under developed countries, many of whom face a trek to reach fresh supplies.
However, similar to Captain Sir Tom Moore's efforts to raise money for the NHS, the plucky pensioner had to restrict Tuesday's effort to her front garden - after pulling a muscle in her back.
"I hope I can still do it," she told Greatest Hits Radio. "I've been in a lot of pain ever since, however they (the charity) tell me even if it takes me into April (to recover) I can still do my kilometres."
It's the second year in a row Sara has signed up to the fundraising challenge, having completed more than 100 miles last year - raising around £3,000 in the process.
And she revealed she's determined to keep going.
“I get upset at the thought of women and girls walking 5km or more to collect dirty water and then shockingly that water makes them sick, so I started to help," Sara explained.
“It’s great to wake up when you’re getting old and feel this is something I can do, especially when there’s so much wrong in the world.
"I’ve always lived in the country and walked lots. I eat reasonably well but I do drink alcohol when I feel like it! Not having too much of anything is key. I love chocolate, I could be a chocoholic if I’m not careful.“
WATCH: Click on the link below to hear our interview with Sara...
WaterAid supporters are encouraged to show their solidarity with women and girls around the world by walking 155km during March, the equivalent of 5km a day.
More than £300,000 has been raised for the charity from the Walk for Water event since 2019 and on average around 300 people take part every year.
Corinne Stone, Senior Community and Events Fundraising Officer at WaterAid, said: We’re so fortunate to have clean water on tap, but millions of people around the world have to walk 5km or more every day just for clean water, to drink, to be able to wash, to do laundry – it’s unacceptable."
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