Comedienne Jo Brand set to trek through South Yorkshire for Sport Relief

Comedienne Jo Brand will be trekking through South Yorkshire in a one week '˜Hell of a Walk' challenge for Sport Relief.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Jan 2016, 11:46 BST
Updated 19th Jan 2016, 11:49 BST
Jo Brand atempts to walk her first marathon in the Chilterns as part of a training session for her Sport Relief challenge to walk from Hull to LiverpoolJo Brand atempts to walk her first marathon in the Chilterns as part of a training session for her Sport Relief challenge to walk from Hull to Liverpool
Jo Brand atempts to walk her first marathon in the Chilterns as part of a training session for her Sport Relief challenge to walk from Hull to Liverpool

The 58-year-old hopes to walk 150 miles in seven days, on a coast-to-coast route from Hull to Liverpool, which will take in Barnsley, Doncaster and the Peak District.

She is set to walk from dawn until dark every day, climbing up to 1,530ft as she crosses the Pennines.

Jo Brand atempts to walk her first marathon in the Chilterns as part of a training session for her Sport Relief challenge to walk from Hull to LiverpoolJo Brand atempts to walk her first marathon in the Chilterns as part of a training session for her Sport Relief challenge to walk from Hull to Liverpool
Jo Brand atempts to walk her first marathon in the Chilterns as part of a training session for her Sport Relief challenge to walk from Hull to Liverpool

Starting in Hull on Friday,

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the former psychiatric nurse will use her journey to highlight the work that Sport Relief does around mental health and issues that impact women and girls across the UK and the world’s poorest communities.

Jo will be joined on parts of her trek by famous friends and people helped by Sport Relief funded projects.

She said: “When I first started training for this challenge, I didn’t realise I was not the national fitness icon I’d always believed myself to be. My body is a temple - it’s big and it doesn’t move!

Jo Brand atempts to walk her first marathon in the Chilterns as part of a training session for her Sport Relief challenge to walk from Hull to LiverpoolJo Brand atempts to walk her first marathon in the Chilterns as part of a training session for her Sport Relief challenge to walk from Hull to Liverpool
Jo Brand atempts to walk her first marathon in the Chilterns as part of a training session for her Sport Relief challenge to walk from Hull to Liverpool

“The realisation is gradually dawning that I have to walk a very, very, very long way, with many days back-to-back using only my poor little legs to carry me – and that’s a gruesome thought.

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“But the hope is that the walk will raise much needed funds for people who really deserve it, which will keep me going. And, if it doesn’t, I will give my trainer Greg full permission to push me off the top of a massive hill. See you at the bottom, folks!”

The money raised from Jo’s challenge will be spent to help transform the lives of some of the most disadvantaged people both in the UK and across the world’s poorest communities.

Jo is set to walk through Doncaster on Saturday and Sunday, passing landmarks including Doncaster Racecourse.

Doncaster Council’s Cabinet Member for the Voluntary and Community Sector, Coun Chris McGuinness, said: “I hope that having such a well-known celebrity visiting our borough will help to raise the profile of the Sport Relief charity amongst local people, and encourage even more of us to get outside for walks and exercise.”

Related topics:LiverpoolSouth YorkshireDoncasterDoncaster CouncilHull