Katie’s Paras challenge raises £1,500
ASOUTHPORT personal trainer has raised more than £1,500 for Queenscourt Hospice by completing the gruelling Paratroopers 10 TAB challenge.
Katie Tanner, 35, endured the 10-mile, multi-terrain route in Catterick in honour of her dad, Jim Webb, who died aged 59 after suffering global brain damage in a motorbike accident 17 years ago.
His condition was very complex, but Queenscourt offered much needed services and supported him and the family. Palliative care nurse specialist Laura Rose even came in on her days off.
Mum-of-three Katie, who works at the Warehouse gym, wanted to give something back to Queenscourt as it only has a small amount of government funding and largely relies on charitable donations.
It is run by volunteers and its services are free.
Katie completed the cross-country route in North Yorkshire with her friend, Laura Gardner, 31, a nurse at Southport Hospital.
Both were wearing bergens (rucksacks) weighing 16kg (35lb), combat fatigues and hiking boots.
Katie said: “Well it was hard. Much harder than expected. So many hills, and when I say hills some felt like mountains, really steep.
“My knee had been playing up most of the week so I was a little worried, I just had to really slow it down when doing the race.
“Me and Laura stayed together the whole run.”
She added: “To put it into perspective 16kg is a toddler, my three-year-old weighs just over 14kg. So with that on our back for 10 miles was gruelling.”
But the fundraising goal and the reminder that what she was doing was for her dad kept her focused.
Katie said: “I had a lot of emotion attached to completing it so it was amazing to get to the end.
“Laura and I both feel proud of what we have achieved, not only for the run but we raised a great amount of money.
“The support has been great, lots of messages and donations. I’d just like to thank everyone who’s supported us.
“And with the run collecting over £1,500 and then my mum having a collection at Dad’s funeral which came to around £800, it feels nice to give something back to Queenscourt. They don’t get enough credit for the work they do.”
The Paras’ 10 route is in an active military area used to prepare troops and vehicles for operations all over the world.
Katie said: “When we first arrived there was a bit of a parachuting show where they jumped out of planes with smoke, it was great!
“So many different people were also taking part too, there were Gurkhas, people with heart conditions and prosthetic limbs. It was a really great experience.”
To find out more about Queenscourt Hospice, visit www.queenscourt. org.uk.