Becky Flynn, who is fundraising for the British Heart Foundation and Crohns and Colitis UK in memory of her brother, Jonathan Phillips, who died last year, at the age of 21, has got off to a great start.

Becky was born in Ross and is organising several fundraising events in the town which she hopes will be popular with residents as well as making lots of money. She told the Ross Gazette that she is very grateful for all the support she has received from friends, family and colleagues so far.

She set herself the personal challenge of losing weight and getting fit enough to run the London Marathon next year and raising £5,000. Her first public step towards this was taking part in her first 5k on Saturday, October 29th in Bristol. This was no ordinary 5K, it was the Gung-Ho inflatable course. Becky dressed as a lobster and as well as dealing with the inflatable obstacles there were zombies to avoid as it was Halloween. Becky told the Gazette “It was very hilly and the pathways were stoney so I found it quite hard at times but I have noticed a difference in my fitness. I’m getting there slowly! I’m also another dress size down!”

Instead of asking for sponsorship Becky asked for donations and the more money donated the more ridiculous the costume she was prepared to wear. She really wanted to be a unicorn (for £30 fundraising), next was a pumpkin for £60 then a chicken for £100, but as over £150 was donated she was a lobster. She said “It was very hot under the outfit but I got lots of cheers which motivated me.”

She has raised £650 for the British Heart Foundation, so far, and with a Ladies Christmas Shopping and pamper evening on November 17th at the Chase Hotel and the Santa Dash and Tinsel Toddle on December 4th she is confident of hitting her £5000 goal early.

Five months before he finished university, 21-year-old Jonathan died suddenly of a rare and undiagnosed heart condition, Giant Cell Mycarditis. Becky told the Ross Gazette “He wasn’t a typical university student, he didn’t go out drinking and he worked very hard. We were so proud of him, and my parents and I miss him very much.”

Fundraising for Crohns and Colitis UK by making cakes has now reached £300 and Becky has also decided to collect shoe boxes full of treats for the Cat Adoption Centre in time for Christmas because her brother loved his pet cats.

There are different ways to contact Becky, her email address is [email protected] or her Justgiving page is: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BeckyFlynnLondonMarathon and her Facebook event page is Raising for the British Heart Foundation in memory of Jonathan Phillips.