An octogenarian is taking on a huge walking challenge for a good cause.

Joyce Cook, 86, originally from Llangollen, is walking an incredible 300,000 steps over one month to raise funds for Cure Parkinson’s.

She is aiming for 10,000 steps a day, and has covered more than 80,000 steps already. She began on April 11 (World Parkinson’s Day) and is finishing on May 10.

Though Joyce is committed to keeping fit, this challenge will be no easy feat.

She said: “I must admit I am nervous about this challenge, I just hope I can do it! I am 86-years-old and I will try to walk 10,000 steps a day, which may be tricky but I will do my best.

"I started training properly in January, but walking in the ice and snow is pretty dangerous. But I love being out in the fresh air, and I love walking, and most of all I am inspired to do everything I can to raise funds for Cure Parkinson’s.

"This is a wonderful charity - close to my heart - as a dear friend of our family passed away with the condition. His wonderful memory inspires me to raise funds to help find the cure.”

Cure Parkinson’s is a charity with close ties to the Cook family. Joyce’s family has supported the charity since it was founded in 2005, to the extent that Joyce’s son, Will Cook, became a trustee in 2015, then gave up his job to become the charity’s CEO in 2017.

Joyce has always been an active and engaged member of the local community. Born in 1934 in her grandmother’s house on Mill Street, in Llangollen, she grew up in the famous Castle Street Square between 1934-1948, through the war years when many US GIs were posted close by.

Joyce’s father, Tom Clutton, was somewhat of a local celebrity as he was a county councillor for Denbighshire, Mayor of Llangollen and sat on the International Eisteddfodd Committee.

Joyce later moved to London and worked as a primary school teacher and marriage guidance counsellor in the 1960s-90s before serving as a JP before retirement.

She remains passionate about health and fitness as a way of keeping the mind active.

Joyce’s son, Will said: “I am inspired by many people around this charity, and hugely proud of my mum – committing to walk 10,000 steps per day at 86 years young is amazing.

"I have offered to walk some of her distance each day with her, but will have to work hard to keep up! She is very focused and loves getting out of the house. And my family is 100% behind her, my 14-year-old son Ben has even taken on the role of her social media manager!”

Cure Parkinson’s is incredibly grateful to Joyce for taking on this huge challenge. In 2020, 95 per cent of the charity’s fundraising events were cancelled or significantly changed.

The support of fundraisers like Joyce is vital, now more than ever, for Cure Parkinson’s to continue its work funding urgently needed research into a cure for Parkinson’s.