A DETERMINED fund-raiser completed a gruelling 100km charity trek thanks to the support of her husband and young daughter.
Diana Washington was part of a team of seven from consultancy group Repl to take in the 24 hour walk – from Putney Bridge in London to Henley-on-Thames – but was among just three in her team to actually cross the finish line.
The 35-year-old was raising money for Hatton-based Molly Olly’s Wishes – which supports children with terminal or life-limiting illnesses – and Calm, a charity which aims to reduce suicide rates in men.
And the Warwick resident said it was thinking of the charities and video messages from her ten-year-old daughter which kept her going.
Diana said: “I was the slowest walker in our team. I became separated from the others and felt quite lonely, it was physically very tiring and was also raining.
“At the 58km mark I had to have a four-hour break and my husband came to collect me because we both thought at this stage I was likely to drop out, as others had already done. But he reminded me of how hard I had worked in training since June and I also thought about the fantastic charities I was raising money for.
“My husband and daughter played a huge part in keeping me going. When I reached the 99km mark and saw my daughter running towards me from the finish line, I just broke down in tears. I was in so much pain but I was pushing myself because I wanted to finish for her. I am in no doubt that I would have given up without them.”
Visit www.justgiving.com/companyteams/REPLTPC to donate.
