AN ORTHOPAEDIC and trauma surgeon is on a mission to help as many people as she can by attempting to set a new Guinness world record.

Angela White, 60, also known as the Running Granny, has set herself the notorious task of being the oldest woman to run from John O’Groats to Land’s End, a total of 840 miles.

Having spent her career working for the health service and volunteering for Age UK South Lakeland, she has seen first hand how poor health in old age leads to a poor quality of life.

“You’re never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream,” she said.

“I only started running seven years ago and I’m not an elite runner, I’m just an ordinary person who found something I enjoy doing.”

Miss White, who is from Kendal, hopes to raise around £25,000 for a newly founded non-profit organisation called Going for Old.

The social enterprise will aim to “encourage, motivate and inspire people” to make small steps towards positive lifestyle choices to improve their physical and mental health.

“I know that many of these long-term health conditions can be prevented by embracing a healthy lifestyle,” continued Miss White

“In particular, there is enormous growth in the number of people with obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and lung disease.

“With the expertise that I have I want to continue to help others for as long as I can.”

Going for Old will be a web-based informative and interactive trusted resource for health and wellbeing.

It will provide useful information as well as setting fun challenges from getting out into nature to being creative.

Miss White said she wanted to contribute to the movement of changing perceptions of ageing.

“It’s never too late to try something new,” she said.“I mean the training for this challenge has been tough in all sorts of ways. But it will be exciting and it will be an adventure.

“I’ve loved this running journey, I’ve made so many friends.”

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