A LOSSIEMOUTH MUM of two who lost her grandfather to prostate cancer will attempt to cover 100 miles this week – without moving from the RAF gym at the local air base!
Kelly Willis had planned to complete her mammoth challenge on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support over three days on Moray’s roads – but that plan was scuppered when she suffered a painful inflammation in her chest.
A new approach was needed and for that the RAF came to the rescue by offering Kelly, a professional model, the use of a treadmill on the base to complete the challenge.
Kelly said: “Three years ago my grandfather passed away. He had prostate cancer at the time and had previously beaten colon cancer. Macmillan were incredible for my grandfather and support for our family.”
She had planned to complete her 100 mile challenge from Friday through until Sunday on foot through the countryside “to say thank you for what Macmillan do for patients and there loved ones and to raise awareness”.
However, her plans were scuppered when she was diagnosed with costochondritis, which is an inflammation between the ribs and breastbone. However, she remained determined to complete the fundrising effort– and that has now been made possible by the Moray base.
She said: “It ko caused a change of plan – my 100 miles had to be completed on a treadmill to keep me safe. The RAF at Lossiemouth have kindly allowed me to use a treadmill at the gym on camp.”
Highlands and Islands fundraising manager for Macmillan, Christina Keith, thanked Kelly for taking on the challenge and having the determination to see it through despite her infection.
She said: “Without the support of people like her we wouldn’t be able to fund our vital cancer services.”
Kelly is no stranger to unusual challenges. Last year she took on an attempt at getting into the Guinness Book of Records by bouncing on a Space Hopper for five miles along the cycle route between Lossiemouth and Elgin.
People can support Kelly’s effort by going to her fundraising site at http://www.justgiving.com/Kelly-Willis2/