An Arctic expedition could be the next adventure for a Putney fundraising ultrarunner.
Landlady at the Bricklayer’s Arms, on Waterman St, Becky Newman is hoping to join explorer and climate scientist Felicity Aston MBE in a 300-mile trek to the North Pole in 2017.
Becky, 48, was honoured last year for her work raising tens of thousands of pounds for brain injury charity Headway in South West London
She chose to support the charity after her sister Helen died of a brain haemorrhage in 2005.
Becky said: “I did the North Pole Marathon as part of my fundraising back in 2012 and absolutely fell in love with the arctic so I’m trying to make the leap at the moment from being an ultrarunner to being a polar explorer.”
Since losing her sister she has raised about £40,000 by running ultramarathons in extreme conditions.
Last year she completed the Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert, known as the ‘the toughest footrace on earth’.
“My feet were cut to ribbons when I got back so I couldn’t run for a long time,” she admitted. “Mentally I’m still bearing the scars.”
Becky won a Wandsworth Civic Award last year after being nominated by Rachel Allen, chairwoman of the Headway board of trustees.
Ms Allen said: “Becky is a daredevil ambassador for the charity. Without her support we wouldn’t be able to reach as many people as we now can.”
With the help of money raised by Becky the small charity has raised its profile by employing people to build relationships with south west London groups and hospitals.
This year’s Wandsworth Civic Awards ceremony takes place next month and nominations close today.
For more information about the charity visit www.headway.org.uk
