Thursday 11 June 2020

At the age of 70, you would be forgiven if you just wanted to put your feet up and reflect on the past seven decades – unless you’re Linda Jeavons!

The great-grandmother from Penisarwaen, North-West Wales, has decided that she will mark her seventh decade by walking a marathon-a-day during June for two charities. That is 30 marathons in just a month!

Linda has already raised £921.45 of her £1,000 target for the Wales Air Ambulance and Blood Bikes Wales.

Every decade Linda, who is originally from Colwyn Bay, marks her birthday by completing a challenge – this will be her seventh.

Her previously birthday challenges have included running the London Marathon, learning to ride a motorbike and passing her test, entering the Snowdon Race and cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

Linda has always kept fit and enjoys fundraising. Speaking of why she has chosen the Wales Air Ambulance as one of her charities, she said: “I think in the rural community we live with the hospital so far from many people, the Air Ambulance do a great job in treating casualties and getting them very quickly to the hospital they need to be at.”

Linda originally planned to do the challenge on her actual birthday, January 27, but is now doing it whilst adhering to lockdown restrictions.

The family are no strangers to going above and beyond for a challenge. In 2018, her daughter Steff Jeavons became the first Brit to circumnavigate the world on her Honda motorbike.

Steff said: “Mum is doing great. I never doubted she would. She has an amazing ability to get done the things that she sets her mind too, and with zero drama. We are all very proud of her achievements so far. The dog seems a little reluctant to follow her these days, though. I can't imagine why!”

Lynne Garlick, Wales Air Ambulance Fundraising Manager, said: “Completing a marathon is a huge challenge for the best of us. But doing 30 in 30 days is just extraordinary. We’d like to wish Linda well in her challenge and thank her so much for fundraising for two important charities.”

If you would like to keep up to date on Linda’s daily challenge you can follow her progress via her Facebook page - Walk Like a North Walian.

You can donate via her Virgin Money page, Linda Jeavons Walking here.