A WOMAN in her seventies says she is walking from John O’Groats to Lands End to show others you are never too old for a challenge.

Helen Connerton, 71, of Ailsa Road, Westcliff, will be embarking on the epic 90-day trek from one end of Great Britain to the other in May in aid of Age Concern and the Mental Health Association to show walking can help depression.

Having suffered from the illness in the past, she said she wanted to inspire other people from her generation to take up a challenge, even if this was only a bit of walking every day, if they were feeling the blues.

She said: “I want to show you’re never too old. I’ve always enjoyed life, but I have suffered from depression and, as I’ve got older, I’ve found walking and being outside has really helped.

“I’ve walked nearly all my life, as I don’t have a car, but although I did the MoonWalk marathon in London last year for Cancer Research and part of the coastal path in Cornwall, I’ve never done anything like this before.” She says the idea to go from John O’Groats to Lands End arose from an initial desire to walk from Essex to Tuscany, which was later abandoned after a little research which revealed Italy did not have enough public highways for it to be feasible.

Last month, however, son Christian, 49, suggested his mother do a “staycation”

version of the challenge instead by walking more than 1,000 miles from the tip of Scotland to the edge of Cornwall.

“I feel a bit sick thinking about it sometimes,” she said.

“I’m training every day now and I’ve increased my mileage now to 12 miles a day, as well as doing yoga and pilates, to keep myself supple.”

As Helen must raise £2,500 to cover the cost of accommodation over the three-month trip before any further proceeds can go to the two charities.

To donate to her cause, visit gofundme.com/LTTOIG