POWER walker Melanie Webb is today taking on one of her toughest challenges to date.

The 58-year-old, from Heathfield, is striding her way through the equivalent of two and a half marathons in aid of the cancer charity Walk the Walk.

She is expecting to complete the 65-mile challenge on the Isle of Wight in little more than a day.

Mrs Webb will join hundreds of other runners, joggers and walkers for the event, in which they take on a gruelling loop around the island’s scenic coastal path.

The HR consultant for UK Power Networks in Crawley has trained hard for the event.

She said: “I would like my weekends and evenings back because I’ve put in lots of training for this.

“I’ve been walking ten miles every other day and up to 28 miles a day at weekends.

“It will be the longest walk I’ve done by three miles and if I’m not ready now, I never will be.

“I’m looking forward to the spectacular scenery and getting a nice pace going. The really hilly bits with the Needles and sheer drops will be in daylight and I’ll use a head torch at night.

“It’s a fully supported event, with four major stops for rest, food and drink and to change plasters.

“I like the personal challenge and want to attempt something even bigger next year.

“At the end I might be tired and aching but the sense of achievement will be fabulous.”

Mrs Webb hopes to raise about £500 for the charity, which she is supporting because of her personal links with the disease.

She said: “My mother had breast cancer when I was eight, which she survived and thankfully she lived to old age.

“A couple of friends and colleagues have also had breast cancer so I’ve seen how it affects people.

“I like to support research that will beat this disease.”

There will be no let up in the fundraising as Mrs Webb also intends to take part in the annual London MoonWalk on May 16.

Factfile

Walk the Walk is a charity that looks at various projects and campaigns involved with breast cancer and grants funds to where it knows it will make the most difference.

Its policy is to look at projects that perhaps would not easily find funding and to those that would perhaps take many years to achieve their goals and assist them in reaching them in a shorter time.

It supports research not only into the causes of breast cancer but also identifying cancer genes and consequently improving the treatments.

It also funds emotional and physical support for those with cancer now.