A DISABLED woman has defied the odds to travel the length of Britain without leaving the borough.
Gillian Dipple set herself the challenge of covering the 874 miles from John O’Groats to Lands End on a treadmill, rowing machine and exercise bike from Arrow Valley Health Club to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
The Studley resident, who has problems with her right leg meaning she has to wear a brace to help her walk, started her journey in March but only four days in suffered a fall and sustained a head injury. Undeterred she restarted the challenge in April but another fall resulted in broken ribs and more time off.
It was September before Gillian was able to get back on track and finally completed the distance on November 1 in 169 hours and 13mins, equivalent to just over seven days, burning off 67,758 calories in the process.
Gillian told the Standard she owed her success to the support of her family and friends as well as trainer Dan Cuniapen.
“Before I started the challenge people were saying I would not be able to do it because the amount of miles I was about to take on was a massive thing to do for an able bodied person let alone one with disabilities.” she said.
“But I didn’t let that bother me it made me more determined to do it, I said right let me show everyone that I can do this.”
Gillian now plans to hold a charity bingo night and disco to finish off her fund-raising.
Visit www.justgiving.com/gillian-paula-dipple to donate.
