Sir Tom inspires 104-year-old Ruth
A 104-YEAR-OLD woman who is looking to give veteran fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore a run for his money by walking a marathon for charity is “very competitive,” her granddaughter has said.
Ruth Saunders, from Newbury, Reading, originally set out to walk 104 laps of her block to match her age, a distance of about 21 miles, but decided to extend her goal to a full marathon (26.2 miles) after encouragement from her family.
Kate Saunders, 50, said her grandmother had complained of being “really bored” during lockdown and asked if she could walk around the block.
“She really enjoyed it and thought ‘well why don’t I raise some money doing it?” she said.
Ruth’s initial fundraising target was £500, but her JustGiving page reached more than £8,000 by yesterday.
She is walking for Thames Valley Air Ambulance, having previously held coffee morning fundraisers that have had to be stopped due to the pandemic.
Ruth previously told the BBC that she was inspired by Sir Tom, the 100-year-old veteran who raised millions for the NHS during lockdown, but said that she was older than he was, and had walked further.