The doting granddaughter of an independent 95 year old woman who fractured her hip is taking on one of the biggest challenges of her life to raise funds for Sheffield Hospitals Charity.

Collette Shaw, aged 44, from Ridgeway, will take part in the Sheffield Half Marathon after her Nan, Lilian Wright, had two falls in three days, requiring a hip replacement at the city’s Northern General Hospital.

Collette is taking part in the 13.1 mile race to not only thank medics for Lilian’s care, but for the ‘forgotten generation’ who are inspiring, strong, resilient and fighting old age.

She was advised to have a hip replacement, which was very frightening for us all

She said: “Unfortunately the falls my Nan had has caused a once vigilant, bright and witty woman to become frail, forgetful and fully dependent on others.

“After being rushed to hospital, she was advised to have a hip replacement, which was very frightening for us all as we knew that she may not recover from the operation. But recover she did, and after three weeks she was back in her own flat with her whiskey – which she swears by!

“Due to her independent nature, she didn’t want to go to a rehabilitation home, so she has carers four times a day, my mum goes every morning and I go at the weekends.

“Getting to the ripe old age of 95 is something we all strive for, but we should not forget that the elderly were once young and now all they have is memories - some not even that. 

“I'm running my first half marathon for those people. My Nan and others like her are so inspirational and strong they deserve unconditional care and support and recognition for how resilient they are.

“I would like to raise as much as possible. It is such a worthy cause and a service that we all might need ourselves one day.”

Grab your place in the Sheffield Half Marathon today!

To donate to Collette’s cause, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Collette-Shaw1