A WOMAN from Stoke Climsland is on the home-stretch of her 52,000 jumps for charity.

Ruth Nevill is a volunteer of the Parkinson’s group in Tavistock which has been raising funds to enable people with the debilitating disease to try and find different types of exercise that they enjoy in order to help slow the disease progression.

Darren Evans from Tavistock will be running the London Marathon on Sunday, April 22 in aid of the local Parkinson’s group — and he challenged other members to complete their own ‘marathons’.

Ruth jumped at the chance to get involved and do her part for the charity: ’As it is proven that exercise can slow the disease progression by exercising I decided that I would do my own “marathon”. My husband came up with the idea of jumping the equivalent of the London Marathon — 26.2 miles — on a trampoline which I estimated to be 52,000 jumps and would take approximately 13 hours.’

Ruth added that the challenge has been brilliant for not only raising funds for the group but also in the interest it has gathered with the public.

‘We’re raising £500 to fund exercise taster sessions for people with Parkinson’s.

‘The Parkinson’s group that I work with are raising funds to enable people with Parkinson’s to try out different types of exercise in order to find one (or more) that they enjoy and that suits them.’

‘The main idea is that we help people to find an activity that suits them to improve their functional ability and mood in addition to all the other benefits.’

Ruth said that she aims to have the challenge completed by next Thursday (April 19), just in time for the London Marathon next Sunday.

Ruth expressed thanks to everyone who has supported her by way of encouragement or contributing to her JustGiving page. She also thanked the Duchy College in Stoke Climsland for its support.

For more information on Parkinson’s UK, visit www.parkinsons.org.uk or to donate to Ruth’s JustGiving page, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ruth-nevill