RESEARCH into Motor Neurone Disease has received a £55,000 shot in the arm after a courageous fundraiser made it to the finishing line in Kirk Yetholm at the weekend.

Sue Fletcher Watts was diagnosed with MND in July last year.

But rather than dwell on the devastating news she decided to take on the 268-mile Pennine Way Challenge – with the support of family and friends all along the route.

Sue’s motto is ‘Walking the Positive Path’ and her phenomenal effort has helped raise £5,000 more than her original £50,000 target.

The 60-year-old mother-of-two, from Oxfordshire, led her family and friends for the seven-mile stretch from Mounthooly Bunkhouse into Kirk Yetholm ahead of schedule Saturday afternoon, May 21, realising her dream of walking the Pennine Way in one go.

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Her friend and supporter Jacquie Cooke said: “Although her disease meant she couldn’t do the scrabbling and uneven parts of the Way, she walked and staggered 100 miles unaided – or as she says, ‘with two walking sticks’ – a hand to hold, and muscly types on each side of every stile to give her a boost over and a soft landing down.”

More than 180 friends and family joined her for parts of the walk,  which had started at Edale in the Peak District, while four “whole-hoggers” walked the entire 268 miles.

Jacquie added: “Sue’s courage, humanity and triumph over adversity are best summed up by the simple phrase she adopted for the challenge – ‘Walking the Positive Path’.”

It was Sue’s long-held ambition to accept the Pennine Way Challenge but the diagnosis accelerated her plans, with her neurologist advising her she would be able to take it on provided she did so by spring/early summer 2022.

The triumphant trekkers gathered at The Borders Hotel at the end of the trail.

To find out more about the challenge and support Sue’s fundraising efforts go to https://justgiving.com/fundraising/susan-fletcher-watts