The challenge was put on hold last year, when Bridget deferred her London Marathon place due to injury but she is back on track with her training and despite some setbacks with running niggles, she recently completed the Brentwood Half Marathon.

“My inspiration comes from my dad who passed away with Dementia. When my legs start to hurt, I think of him and what a strong, motivated person he was.

“I wanted to raise money for a local charity as well as the Alzheimer’s Society and The Shakespeare Hospice helped me with counselling when I lost my husband and was a huge support for a friend and his family when he lost his battle to kidney cancer nearly two years ago.”

In exchange for a donation, a small metal heart will be placed around a tree by the RSC on Saturday 4 May. Bridget is hoping to place a total 172 hearts around the base of a tree with a minimum requested donation of £10. Bridget explained,

“This heart can represent your memory of someone that has passed away or a special person that has touched you or someone's life even if only in a small way!”

Bridget is encouraging those who fancy a walking challenge to join her on one of the seven stages of her walk back from the Globe Theatre in London along the Shakespeare Way through Oxford to Stratford upon Avon.

The final stage on Saturday 4 May is 17 miles starting at Shipston-on-Stour and will finish in Stratford upon Avon. Bridget will be greeted and welcomed home by volunteers of The Shakespeare's Hospice at their Spring Fayre in Shottery along with family and friends.

To find out more about Bridget’s challenge and to donate, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/172Challenge.

For more about the Spring Fayre event at The Shakespeare Hospice, visit their website www.theshakespearehospice.org.uk or their Facebook page @ShakespeareHospice.