She’s known as the Running Granny but the challenge Angela White is taking on would stretch much younger athletes.
Today, she has embarked on the gruelling Spine Challenger North, a 160-mile, non-stop race along the Pennine Way where competitors are likely to face sub-zero temperatures.
“It’s a gruelling challenge, but I’m determined to raise funds for Headway South Cumbria, a charity close to my heart that supports individuals with acquired brain injuries,” Angela, who lives near Kendal, said.
“This journey comes with extra hurdles for me as just a few months ago, I underwent knee surgery. I’m not fully recovered, and my training has been limited. But I’d rather be moving a dot than watching dots!”
For Angela, a retired surgeon and keen advocate of keeping fit for later life, the decision to raise money for the charity was a simple one. Last year one of her children suffered a brain haemorrhage during an accident and while the immediate care they received was excellent the family now face the challenge of rehabilitation.
“For many, the transition from acute care to life beyond is marked by gaps in support,” Angela said. “In South Cumbria, these gaps are particularly wide.
“Our local hospital hasn’t had a neurology consultant for over two years with services provided out of county and waiting lists now exceeding 735 days. That’s where Headway South Cumbria steps in.”
The Spine Challenger event comes less than a year after Angela won two bronze medals when she represented Great Britain in the European Triathlon Championships in Portugal. At the age of 60 she ran from John o’Groats to Land’s End setting a Guinness World Record as the oldest female.
“It’s more of an expedition than a race and I’ll just be concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other!” Angela said. “ I’ll be carrying a tracking device throughout the event—watch my dot move as I tackle the Pennine Way! You can follow my journey at this link where I am competitor number 604.“
Sponsors are invited to support Angela here.
