A MOTHER has shown her appreciation for the "amazing" care given to her son by a children's hospital by taking part in a 100km sponsored walk.
Lu Cummins, from Mayland, walked from London to Brighton to raise cash for Great Ormond Street Hospital after doctors performed lifesaving surgery on her son Fraser when he was 18 months old.
It was not the first time the 45-year-old has stepped out for charity. Ms Cummins has covered more than 700 miles over the past eight years in sponsored walks, raising £15,000 for worthwhile causes including breast cancer and Alzheimer's charities.
She said: "This was my greatest walking challenge yet, both mentally and physically, but I'm so proud to have completed the challenge, and I've managed to raise around £2,000 for Great Ormond Street."
Fraser, who is now 14, underwent emergency surgery to correct fluid building up on his brain – a condition that could have proven fatal without treatment, and later returned to the London hospital to undergo treatment for a double squint.
Ms Cummins, who works at Fullbridge Tesco, said: "Towards the end of the walk I got very emotional, but was motivated by the thought of Fraser and the help he received from Great Ormond Street."
Organised by a group called Action Challenge, the London2Brighton walk was the largest event ever held by the organisation, with 1,751 people taking part on May 25 – of whom Lu came 379th.
The participants departed from the City of London at 7am, continuing until the early hours of the following morning, when they arrived at the seaside town in less than 24 hours.
"I'm thrilled to have completed the walk for a cause so close to my family's hearts," said Ms Cummins, who is also aiming to take part in the Great North run in September and train for a half-marathon by the end of the year.
