A WOMAN has completed the seventh of a dozen challenges she is undertaking to raise money and awareness for a diabetes charity.

Kerry Gough, 36, from Billericay, raised more than £2,500 by completing the London to Southend bike ride, cheered on by her two-year-old son, Ollie, and husband Mark, 42.

She has been inspired to take on the challenges because Mark has Type 1 diabetes, having been diagnosed when he was just nine.

Kerry is aiming to complete 12 different challenges in a year for Diabetes UK. Her next is in September, when is due to enter the Great North Run.

Kerry said: “To see Ollie and Mark at 33 miles on my way to Southend was a great boost.

“I’m delighted by the amount I have managed to raise so far – more than £2,500.

“I’m definitely getting fitter. I didn’t even have to get off my bike and walk up the hills this time!”

Mark and Ollie have not only been cheering Kerry on, they have also have taken part in some of the events, too.

Other challenges have included riding on a mile-long zip wire in the Welsh mountains, a walk over the top of London’s O2 Dome, the Diabetes UK swim-22, the Sports Relief Swimathon and the Sports Relief Mile Walk, which she completed with Ollie.

Sharon Roberts, eastern regional manager for Diabetes UK, said: “Kerry is going from strength to strength and it’s not only a boost for fundraising, but also helps raise awareness of the condition.

“No one knows exactly what causes Type 1 diabetes, but it’s not to do with being overweight and isn’t preventable.

"However people like Kerry help fund ongoing research which aims to create a world without diabetes. Just £250 could pay for five kits to analyse changes in immune cells during tests of a prototype Type 1 vaccine.”

The money Kerry raises will be split between Diabetes UK, London’s Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and the Stroke Association.

For more information and to support Kerry’s efforts, visit uk.virgin moneygiving.com/challengekerry