Incredible Mary walks entire length of Hadrian’s Wall for NHS charity at 90!

In one of the most incredible fundraising efforts ever seen in Somerset, 90-year-old
Mary Nicholson has walked the entire 97 mile length of Hadrian’s Wall to raise
money for the NHS.

Mary, who’s from Burnham-on-Sea, raised over £8,500 for the Beacon Centre at
Musgrove Park Hospital, where her brother Peter is receiving treatment.

“Following the outstanding care and treatment for my brother, Peter, at the Beacon
Centre and from colorectal surgeon Mr Paul Mackey, I decided to walk the length of
Hadrian’s Wall to raise money for Musgrove Park Hospital’s cancer services,” said
Mary.

“The walk itself was very tough, and although the first couple of days were arguably
the easiest as they mainly consisted of walking on flat surfaces, we started hitting the
hills, and climbing up and down rocks.

“It was really tough going as it was quite hot, and the most difficult part was probably
days five or six, as we were told it would be an 11 mile walk, but once we’d reached
that milestone, we realised it was actually 15 miles that day! It definitely wasn’t what I
wanted to see as my legs were aching!

“In honesty there were many times that I wanted to give up because of the physical
barriers, but it was my faith that drove me on. I have arthritis in my knees, which
could be painful, but I still managed to complete it!”

Mary, who’s also a former midwife, was joined on the eight-day trek by family
members, including her three daughters, youngest son and grandchildren, but said
she set the pace!

She said it was thoughts of the Beacon Centre and her brother that kept her going.
“It’s his enthusiasm for the centre and all the care they have taken of him," she told
the BBC, who covered the story.

“When you are going up the hills, and there are quite a few of them, it's quite stony
and there’s stony paths, wooden stiles to climb over, it's quite testing. I set the pace
and off we went”

Mrs Nicholson prepared by walking every day along Burnham beach and Brean
Down, and began the hike on 25 April.

She continued: "I thought right I’ve cracked this, this is going to be a piece of cake  –
but it was no piece of cake. It was much, much tougher than that, but I’m so glad I
did it.”

A special cheque presentation took place on Monday 18 August, which was also
covered by a team from BBC Points West, who’ve featured Mary on numerous
occasions during her fundraising efforts.