A BOURNEMOUTH woman is completing her 2020 challenge of walking 10,000 steps a day in memory of her mum and to raise money for charity.

Lauren Franks, 29, a Volunteer Coordinator for Bournemouth Foodbank from Boscombe, embarked on this challenge last year as one of her New Year resolutions.

However, she had to postpone her challenge for three weeks after her mum Angela Pringle contracted Covid-19 and passed away on April 17, aged 54.

Lauren said: "I decided to do this challenge as my health had gotten worse, I gained weight and I didn’t feel right in myself. I really wanted to challenge myself to do 10,000 steps a day to be healthier and to lead a healthier lifestyle.

"I did my steps every day until April 17 as my mum passed away due to Covid-19 which was a huge shock. She was only 54 and it was really quite unexpected. I couldn’t do my steps for three weeks due to isolating and organising a funeral.

"After those three weeks when I came back to Bournemouth, I knew that for my mental wellbeing and my health I should keep doing the steps and continue the challenge."

Lauren continued walking everyday throughout 2020 but was keen to make up for the lost weeks in April.

She decided to add those three weeks on to the start of the new year and to focus her walking efforts towards fundraising for Bournemouth Foodbank.

Lauren said: "I'm hoping I can raise most of the £10,000 goal for Bournemouth Foodbank. If I haven’t reached my goal I might double it to 20,000 steps a day. I’ll keep going and keep trying to raise money for the foodbank as people are going to be impacted even further this year for lots of different reasons."

The challenge has also helped Laura's mental health along with her physical health.

She said: "Coronavirus is still such a new thing and here in Dorset we haven’t been hit as hard as other areas, so I’ve found it quite a lonely place for not knowing anyone that has gone through what I’m going through.

"This walking challenge is in memory of mum and I want to acknowledge the people who have died of Covid and the difficulties it is bringing. These are real people we would never have lost before Covid. I thought my mum would live until she was in her 70s, so it was such a shock."

So far, Lauren has raised £2,893.36 of her £10,000 target and hopes to increase that figure by the end of her challenge.

She said: "I don’t think I realised what a challenge it was, but I’m quite determined. I'm really grateful to those who have donated."

To donate, visit: virginmoneygiving.com/LaurenFranksFoodbank