A local fundraiser is walking 80 miles during March in memory of her mum, who died of a rare brain disease.
Kerri Frost from Keyworth, Nottingham is taking on the 80 miles challenge for her mum, Diane, who died of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) in September 2022.
Starting on 2 March, supported by friend and Biomechanics Coach Rachel Frances Thomson, and fitness coach Hannah Warren, Kerri will be walking the 80 miles distance from her home to her mum’s favourite place Sutton on Sea, using her treadmill at home, taking her mum along with her carrying her ashes in a rucksack on her back. The aim is to reach the target miles by 22 March, passing through Mother’s Day. At the end of the challenge Kerri will travel to Sutton on Sea to scatter her mum’s ashes and hold a memorial service with family on 23 March, which would have been Kerri’s mum 80th birthday. 
As well as taking on the challenge for her mum, Kerri aims to raise funds for UK charity PSPA, who provide high quality support and information to everyone affected by PSP, as well as funding research into the disease.
Of her challenge, Kerri said: “Mum had been living with increasing symptoms since around 2015, when she began to fall backwards, her eye sight changed and she became socially withdrawn.
Mum wasn’t diagnosed until early 2022, despite regular visits to the GP. Her symptoms were just put down to ‘getting older’. Thinking it was Parkinson’s I pushed for more investigations, however, it wasn’t that, it was PSP. In the months that followed, mum’s health deteriorated so quickly and she died peacefully, at home with her family around her in September.
After mum’s diagnosis, I spent much of my time explaining what PSP was to different healthcare professionals involved in her care. As a result, I am taking on this challenge in memory of mum and to help raise awareness and funds for vital research to improve the lives of people affected by PSP and to help people recognise those early signs”.
PSP is a rare neurodegenerative condition caused by the loss of nerve cells in the brain. Over time, this leads to problems with balance, speech, vision, swallowing and mobility. The condition is terminal and currently there are no treatments, or cures. Visit their website for more information:
www.pspassociation.org.uk.
You can follow Kerri’s progress and sponsor her challenge and help create a better future for everyone affected by PSP & CBD, here: www.gofundme.com/f/80-miles-for-mothers-day-mums-80th-birthday