Gosport teenager on a mission raises £2,000 for Alzheimer's Society through taking on 800,000 steps in 40 days

More than £2,000 has already been donated to 17-year-old Lydia Lazenbury’s huge challenge, with funds going to the Alzheimer’s Society.

Lydia, from Alverstoke in Gosport is committed to completing more than 20,000 steps each day for more than a month to help raise money for research into Alzheimer’s.

Her motivation comes from close to home as her grandad Michael Lazenbury has the disease, and Lydia is spurred on by the thought she can help others like her grandad.

Lydia, who started with a target of £150, said: ‘It really hit me because every time I see him he’s different. He sometimes forgets my name, Alzheimer’s is horrible.

‘I was thinking about what I could do and I thought because we have been in lockdown for so long, I haven't been able to do fitness.

‘I’m really enjoying it because it’s encouraging me to get up more during revision, it does make me more productive.’

On her JustGiving page, Lydia said it is sad to be gradually losing different parts of someone so close to her heart, and she also spoke of her nan’s strength in caring for Michael.

Portsmouth Grammar School student Lydia is studying towards A-levels in art, maths, chemistry and biology, and has been enjoying playing netball and tennis to boost her step count.

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Lydia raised £70 through a bake sale for the charity last year, and has been overwhelmed with the response to her latest fundraiser, which has already collected more than £2,000.

At first, the donations mainly came from friends and family, then her very supportive dad Trevor sent the link to his accounting clients and Lydia posted it on a netball Facebook group and it really took off.

Lydia, who was in the top five per cent of Alzheimer’s Society fundraisers last month, said: ‘Everyone pulled through and it’s been so nice seeing everyone’s messages on there.

‘One morning I got about 30 emails with donations. I was crying on the phone to my dad because I was so overwhelmed. I feel so empowered by it and it has motivated me.’

Visit justgiving.com/fundraising/iamorganisingmyownwalkortrek2020-lydialazenbury to learn more and donate.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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