Bury St Edmunds pensioner smashes fundraising challenge in memory of husband

A disabled pensioner has smashed her charity fund-raising target, with the total still rising.

Penny Bentley, from Bury St Edmunds, walked 7,000 steps a day over seven days in December.

The 81-year-old has now raised £4,311 against her target of £1,000, for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MND).

Penny’s husband, Richard, died from the condition, four years ago, and she walked each day in his memory.

She said: “I knew I could walk 7,000 steps but seven days in a row was quite a challenge.

“I have problems with my balance and use a walking frame from but was determined to do it.

“I walked every day in Abbey Gardens in the early morning.

“It was particularly frosty one day which was quite hard going and another, the rain was tipping it down, so I waited for that pass and went at lunchtime.

Penny was inspired to take up the 7 in 7 Challenge by rugby player Kevin Sinfield who ran seven ultra-marathons in seven days to raise money for the MND.

She made the work between December 4 and December 10.

She said: “I am always glad to find new ways to remember my husband.

“He was a parish priest and after we moved to Bury, would often help at the Cathedral, which also supported me with donations. Richard was well known for his smile.

“I recently had my first tattoo with his words, and styled in his own handwriting, as he endured his illness and faced death: ‘Love never dies’.

“The MND Association is in great need of funding to support sufferers and their families, and for much-needed research into this cruel disease.”

Donations also flooded in from abroad.

“My sons Sam, Tom and Joe, live in America and Australia, and they helped to spread the word,” said Penny.

“It got much bigger than I expected and I’m so thankful to everyone who helped boost the funds.

“I measured the steps on my mobile phone with the help of a friend, who is a marathon runner. It was tiring but everyone has been saying how well I look afterwards.”

If you would like to sponsor Penny, visit: www.justgiving.com/page/penny-bentley

The MND 7 in 7 Challenge is a nationwide effort for which people set themselves challenges to help raise money.