Inspiration lady walks tall in Perry Common

99-year-old Mary raises £1,000 for hospice.

Inspirational Mary Harvey was walking tall on Monday as the star attraction of a fundraising event held to mark the climax of Volunteers Week 2021.

Perry Common resident, Mary, 99-years-young, led a sponsored walk around The Ring in Perry Common to raise money for John Taylor Hospice in Birmingham.

She was accompanied on the walk by Erdington MP, Jack Dromey, while those in attendance to cheer her on included the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, Sir David Thompson, Community Fundraiser at John Taylor Hospice, Sally Redmond, Cllr Robert Alden, Witton Lodge Community Association staff and volunteers, local residents and well wishers.

Mary, who is also a director of Witton Lodge, has been an active fundraiser for the Association for more than eighteen years.

Resident chair, Linda Hines said: “She’s an inspiration, pure and simple. To see so many people turn out and support her was fantastic. She loves her community and we love her.”

Following her walk around the 358-metre long traffic island Mary was – to rapturous applause – presented with a specially engraved ‘winner’s medal’ and commemorative souvenir from Sir David Thompson. Around £1,000 in sponsors has so far been collected with more still being received.