A 104-YEAR-OLD woman has celebrated her birthday by trekking 17 miles and raising £35,000 for charity.

On her lockdown exercise breaks, Joan Willet has spent the last six weeks walking up and down the hill outside her care home in Hastings.

She wanted to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, saying life-saving heart surgery 20 years ago had allowed her to reach her impressive age.

In a remarkable fundraising campaign, her image was broadcast over Piccadilly Circus and she appeared on national television.

She said the campaign had brought out “the best of human nature”.

The Argus:

Joan, who lives at Old Hastings House residential home, also said she rewards herself with chocolate every time she makes it up the hill four times.

After watching fellow fundraising centenarian Sir Tom Moore raise a almost £33 million for the NHS, Joan decided to use her daily exercise regime to fund the British Heart Foundation’s research.

She has smashed her initial £500 fundraising target. In just one hour on Monday morning, more than £20,000 flooded in following an interview on BBC Breakfast.

Joan’s image was also broadcast over Piccadilly Circus after the British Heart Foundation was given help to raise awareness of her challenge.

Speaking on her 104th birthday on Sunday, Joan said: “I am lost for words at the kindness of everyone and particularly strangers who have supported me and donated to the British Heart Foundation for my walk, from all over the country and even Australia.

“You only hear about the bad things in the world and apart from raising a great amount of money, it has given me great faith in humanity and really motivated me to walk every day.

“There’s so much kindness in the world as well as the awful things and I have experienced the best of human nature doing this walk.”

About 100 people assembled by the hill outside her care home as Joan embarked on her final walk. She was cheered on by care home residents and well-wishers – including former pupils from her 30-year teaching career.

The Argus:

As she made her descent down the steep hill, she walked through two celebratory birthday arches made by friends and care home staff. She was then showered with gifts and bouquets of flowers. She received dozens of cards from strangers across the country, as well as a giant birthday cake.

Joan said: “This week has been overwhelming, it started when I saw my name and story up in lights on the Piccadilly Lights in London – which the BHF had organised as a thank you. I just want to thank everyone, people I know and those I don’t, from the bottom of my heart for supporting me.”

“When I was 82 years old, I suffered my second heart attack which meant I needed a double heart bypass and a new synthetic valve. I am so grateful to the BHF and its research that made operations like mine possible.”

BHF’s chief executive Dr Charmaine Griffiths said: “I can’t express just how grateful the BHF are to Joan and her incredible effort which has raised this phenomenal amount of money for research into heart and circulatory diseases.

“Her support means so much, particularly in these difficult times when charities like ours are suffering from the impact of Covid-19.

“Joan is an exceptional lady and the money she is raising for us will help others live long and fulfilling lives like her. Her inspiring story and the money she’s raised will leave a lasting legacy in terms of the research it enables, and people it helps.

“Her fundraising page is still open, and we’d encourage even more of the nation to reward her efforts with a donation will help vital fund vital research into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat heart and circulatory diseases.”

You can donate to Joan's fundraiser here.