‘Crown jewel’ Joan sets the pace on her 104th birthday
SPRIGHTLY Joan Willet was showered with gifts as she celebrated her 104th birthday with another leg of her mammoth charity walk.
On an emotional day the indefatigable centenarian was presented with bouquets of flowers, a giant birthday cake and dozens of cards sent from strangers.
Care home staff even came in on their days off to treat their “crown jewel” to a special afternoon tea and cheer words of encouragement as she began her descent of the steep slope which Joan has climbed four times a day for the last six weeks.
Overwhelmed Joan said: “I am lost for words at the kindness of everyone and particularly strangers who have supported me and donated for my walk from all over the country and even from Australia.
“You only hear about the bad things in the world.
“Apart from raising a great amount of money it has given me great faith in humanity and really motivated me to walk every day.
“There’s so much kindness in the world and I have experienced the best of human nature doing this.”
Former teacher Joan added: “This week has been overwhelming.
“I just want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for supporting me.
“I’m not tired at all from my walk and I don’t intend to stop, to keep fit and independent.”
Joan’s daily walks have seen her clock up an astonishing 17 miles in Hastings, East Sussex, raising more than £11,000 for the British Heart Foundation.
Inspired by NHS fundraising hero Captain Sir Tom Moore, she embarked on her charity walk to raise £500 to say thank you for surgery that saved her life more than 20 years ago after a second heart attack.
The charity has rewarded Joan with an engraving on its iconic Heart of Steel sculpture.