Super 75-year-old completes a 100-mile Hartlepool walk in memory of her husband - and vows 'I'm not finished yet'

Sandra, 75, pledged to take on the tough challenge of walking around Hartlepool in memory of her husband Brian who died three years ago this month from motor neurone disease (MND).

But after completing the 100 miles, she said: “I am going to keep on going while donations are coming in.”

Earlier this month, we told how Sandra took on her quest on the third anniversary of Brian’s death. He died 11 months after his diagnosis, aged 75.

Despite rain, wind and most other conditions, Sandra – who walked with friends and family – never gave up and reached the 100 miles target this week after her daily journeys to Seaton Carew, Blackhall, Wynyard as well as many other places.

She said: “There were a couple of days where we were soaked through in the rain, and where I was tired at the end of the day, but I was always bright and buzzing the next morning.”

Thanks to her efforts around £2800 has been raised for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and you can still support Sandra by visiting here.

Sandra also urged people to ‘donate if they see me out with my bucket or tin.”

As she reflected on her achievement, she said: “The fundraising has been very important but so has the raising awareness of MND. Ultimately, my aim was to raise awareness of this.”

Brian fell ill in Bulgaria in September 2016 and Sandra said they originally thought he had had a stroke.

On their return home they paid privately to see someone at James Cook hospital before he was diagnosed.

Motor neurone disease is a condition that affects the brain and nerves and gets worse over time. It can affect the way people breathe, walk, how they talk and how they eat and drink.

But each person’s case is different. In Brian’s case, despite his condition, he “still had the most wicked sense of humour through all of it,” said Sandra when she last spoke to the Hartlepool Mail. "He kept his dignity and he tried his very best to stay bright.”

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