Wigan woman in walking challenge in memory of cousin

Diana has set herself the task of walking at least 20,000 steps a day throughout February in tribute to her cousin Lauren Parry, who died of a brain tumour aged just 25 in December.

She has been lacing up her trainers and hitting the streets to walk between 10 and 12 miles as she is trying to complete a minimum of 25,000 steps, 1,000 for every year of Lauren’s life, each day.

She has also been using the challenge to raise money for the Brain Tumour Charity and has had an astounding response from the public, with more than £4,000 donated so far.

Diana, 36, said: “I am overwhelmed. I wanted to raise £200 so this is way over what I thought I would get.

“While I’m fund-raising I’m posting pictures of Lauren and little stories about her.

“I think that has helped because people feel like they have got to know her and know what she was like, what she enjoyed and how much she loved her family.

“When I decided to do this I was feeling a bit lost and wanted to do something that would give me purpose and get me out of my own headspace.

“My journey has been tough on some days with the weather but I know Lauren has been with me every step of the way.

“As Lauren was 25 years old when she passed away I wanted to do 1,000 steps for every year we were blessed to have her with us. I have hit this target every day and I hope I am making her proud.”

Lauren, who was from Winstanley, was just 19 when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

She went through two brain surgeries, radiotherapy and chemotherapy but last year the tumour returned and grew rapidly.

She received the bad news in December that it was terminal and died a few days before Christmas in Wigan Infirmary, leaving her large and close-knit family devastated.

She said: “Lauren was just the most lovely person you could meet. She spent lots of time with her mum and dad and her brother, who are heartbroken and struggling at the moment.

“She was a child care worker and we all knew that was the career she would do. It’s such a shame that from the age of 19 she didn’t have the life she could have had. She and her boyfriend had plans they’ve not been able to see through.”

Diana has been trying to involve some of Lauren’s relatives in the fund-raising by encouraging people to walk in Lauren’s memory at the weekends with their families.

Diana recently got dozens of people to get their boots on and post selfies along with how many steps they completed and hopes before the end of the challenge to get enough walkers to complete a group effort of one million steps over a weekend.

The steps are all being done in aid of the Brain Tumour Charity, with Diana explaining she wanted to support its research work.

She said: “We don’t want anyone else to go through what Lauren did.”

To find out more or donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/DianaBaybutt

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