South Tyneside women - the "Blister Sisters" - set to walk 122 miles in 24 hours for South Shields charities

Two South Shields women will walk 122miles in 24hours on a treadmill to raise money for causes close to their hearts.
Jean Cook and Angela Davies (R) preparing for the 122 mile charity walk challengeJean Cook and Angela Davies (R) preparing for the 122 mile charity walk challenge
Jean Cook and Angela Davies (R) preparing for the 122 mile charity walk challenge

On August 17, Angela Davies, 55, and Jean Cook, 58 - who are also known as the Blister Sisters - will walk 122miles, the equivalent of the distance from South Shields to Edinburgh, from the “comfort” of the Trimmers Arms on Commercial Road.

Setting off at 10am, they will take to the treadmill for 24hours to cover the distance, with several pledgers helping out and providing moral support along the way.

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The women are hoping to raise £500 for two causes very close to home. Three quarters of the funds will go to the Chloe and Liam Together Forever Trust, which is helping young people achieve their dreams in performing arts and sport, with the rest being donated to Jack’s Classroom in Tanzania.

Jean Cook and Angela Davies (R) preparing for the 122 mile charity walk challengeJean Cook and Angela Davies (R) preparing for the 122 mile charity walk challenge
Jean Cook and Angela Davies (R) preparing for the 122 mile charity walk challenge

In 2014, Angela’s cousin’s son, 18 year-old Jack Burden, from South Shields, was on a trip of a lifetime in Tanzania, when he tragically died as a result of anaphylactic shock.

The family decided to continue Jack’s work by building a classroom in Tanzania, and are funding a communal garden to help the village he spent his time in.

“We were going to walk from Edinburgh to South Shields, but the Trust thought that it would be too dangerous, as we’d be doing it on our own, so they came up with the idea of using treadmills,” Angela explained.

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“We are well into the training now, we’re trying to do as much as we can.”

Jack BurdenJack Burden
Jack Burden

She added: “We have got quite a bit of help - we have got runners to do some miles and friends and relations will help out if we need breaks through the day and night.”

Jean, who has lost a stone and a half since they started training, continued: “We never used the gym or anything, we just enjoyed walking, that was the reason we said we would walk to Edinburgh.”

Alongside the “virtual walk”, Angela and Jean have organised a family fun day at the Trimmers Arms.You can sponsor Angela and Jean at JustGiving and search for Blister Sisters.