East Winch woman to walk 1,083 miles for Motor Neurone despite having osteoporosis

A West Norfolk fundraiser is determined not to let the pain stop her as she prepares a new charity trek in memory of her mum.

Nina Hicks, from East Winch, has already completed a walking challenge covering the equivalent of Mount Kilimanjaro, despite living with osteoporosis.

And now she has landmarks like Mount Everest and the Great Wall of China in her sights to help raise funds for the MND Association’s Lynn support group.

Mrs Hicks is taking on the challenge after her mum, Pamela Trezise, died from motor neurone disease last year, aged 71.

She said: “Mum was my best friend and she loved to walk, so I decided I’m going to do the walking for her this time.”

Ms Trezise, who was a theatre sister at the QEH in Lynn was diagnosed with Motor Neurone three years ago and was given one year to live.

Mrs Hicks said: “Mum was such a fighter, she exceeded everyone’s expectations and kept going long after the prognosis was given.

“She was always happy, bright and fun loving and I was there for her in the final months where she needed care.

“It’s been unbearable losing her but King’s Lynn MND have been amazing.”

The Lynn MND group, which is run solely through donations, supports families and those who have been diagnosed with Motor Neurone disease, for which there is still no cure.

The disease has gained in public prominence in recent times thanks to the high-profile cases of former England rugby league player

Rob Burrow and Scottish rugby union international Doddie Weir.

Mrs Hicks said: “They (the Lynn group) were amazing with us, not only during Mum’s illness but also after.

“We have been offered counselling sessions and they have really gone above and beyond to make sure that we are all ok.

“This is why I had to give back somehow, so they can continue doing amazing work.”

Mrs Hicks has already raised £550 for the Lynn MND group by completing a Kilimanjaro challenge earlier this month, despite covering the last five kilometres with an injury.

She said: “I broke my toe which is one of the joys of having osteoporosis, but I took some paracetamol and carried on.

“It was painful, but the cause is more important as it’s in honour of mum.”

And she hopes to raise even more in the coming months by completing increasingly harder challenges.

On March 1 she will start the Mount Everest challenge, which is 40 miles and then progress to Hadrian’s Wall at 73 miles and The Great Wall of China valleys and peaks, which total 186 miles.

Eventually Mrs Hicks hopes to complete the 1,083 mile distance from Land’s End to John O’ Groats.

She is hoping to at least double the amount she has raised for the organisation so far.

Last year, the Lynn support group launched an emergency appeal for support to continue its work. Like many groups, it has had its fundraising activities decimated by the coronavirus pandemic.

To support her, visit her crowdfunding page here.