Thrive’s CEO Kathryn Rossiter will be completing a mammoth sporting fundraising challenge on Wednesday 31 May in Reading town centre which involves swimming, running and cycling across five counties to celebrate her 50th birthday and to raise £5,000 for charity.

Thrive is the garden therapy charity based in Beech Hill, Berkshire which helps people with disabilities or ill health, or those who are isolated, disadvantaged or vulnerable. Using gardening in this way with a horticultural therapist comes under the wider umbrella of green care and each year Thrive helps hundreds of people of all ages to make positive changes to their lives.

Instead of having a party, Kathryn is jumping on her bike, slipping on a wetsuit and pulling on her trainers to swim 5km, cycle 550km and run 50km across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire in just five days.

Kathryn said: “I want to start my 50s fitter and stronger than I’ve ever been, but it’s not all about me which is why I’ve set this challenge and hope it brings in some money for Thrive. As well as travelling across five counties in five days and raising £5,000, it will also be my fifth year working for Thrive. By the end of it all I hope to have got a more comfortable with the number ‘5’ and seeing it in front of my age.”

Kathryn has a blog which charts her routes and schedule and she starts with an open water swim at Reading Lake on Saturday 27 May at 7.30am. Her challenge ends five days later on Wednesday 31 May at 1pm outside Marks & Spencer in the centre of Reading.

Thrive will be holding street collections and activities in the town during the day and is inviting people to come and support the charity and welcome Kathryn back from her epic challenge. If you’re inspired by Kathryn’s efforts and want to make a donation visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/KathrynR-50

To read more about Kathryn’s challenge visit https://k50challenge.wordpress.com/home/