An internationally acclaimed Guildford opera singer is set to embark on her greatest walking challenge yet when she takes on a 35-mile day hike across all the Thames bridges in aid of charity.
Soprano Kathryn Harries is a patron of surrey charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) along with many sporting personalities including Sir Ian Botham and Sir Steve Redgrave and comedian David Walliams.
To show her commitment to the charity, she has dedicated the next two weekends to raising funds for the charity's awareness week by taking the lead in two charity walks.
Eight people under the age of 35 die each week from sudden cardiac death and a total of 14 heart conditions fall under the umbrella term of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome SADS).
Kathryn has a number of successful fundraising achievements under her belt and last year managed to raise more than £35,000 for the English and Welsh National Opera Benevolent Funds. She has also raised a further £80,000 for the charity Speakability.
Tomorrow (Saturday) Kathryn will try to beat her own 29-miles of "walking in a day" record by completing an estimated 35-mile course from Hampton Court to London's Tower Hill, crossing all of the Thames Bridges en route.
On Sunday, July 15, she will be joined by CRY supporters, including bereaved families and survivors of SADS, and together they will complete an 8km challenge that will take them over eight London bridges – to mark the eight young people that die every week from a heart condition.
Kathryn said: "I had read about fit, young people dying without warning because of an undiagnosed heart condition – and as a mother of two, I could not begin to imagine the terrible grief of those youngsters' families. I wanted to do my next walk for children and CRY was the obvious choice for me.
"I have been busy fundraising and handing our leaflets as well as asking audiences at my concerts to lend their support and many have given generous donations.
"At thye Coverwood Concerts in Peaslake a couple of weeks ago, we managed to raise £800, which was fantastic.
"It will definitely be a challenge as I have not managed to walk more than 30 miles in a day. I've walked plenty of 24s and 25s but my own record is currently 29 miles. I have trained in much the same way as my previous walks. I spent last week in the Lake District to get fit and I walk regularly on the Surrey Hills.
"So far, around 350 supporters of CRY have signed up to join me on the walk on July 15 but I would love to get that figure up to 400.
"We need to raise awareness about SADS and put pressure on the powers that be that screening children from a young age could prevent these young people from dying."
CRY was formed almost 11 years ago by its founder Alison Cox and is heavily involved in lobbying for greater access to screening for young people, especially those who regularly take part in sporting activities.
Through its work and donations, the charity has been able to provide medical equipment and a subsidised screening programme around the UK.
Alison Cox said: "We are delighted that Kathryn is taking on this difficult challenge and we'll all be supporting her every step of the way."
Anyone who wishes to lend their support to Kathryn's walks can call the CRY office on 01737 363 222 or visit
http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/kathryn_harries_bridges_walk.htm for more details.
All funds raised will go towards the CRY screening programme, medical equipment, raising awareness and medical research as well as providing counselling.
