South Downs hosts leg of doctor's fundraiser

Meg Pragnell (left) donated a kidney to her mother less than a year before her first challenge

A doctor who is completing 15 half Ironman-distance challenges in 15 days to raise money for charity has brought her fundraiser to a national park in Sussex.

On Thursday, South Downs National Park is hosting a leg of junior A&E doctor Meg Pragnell's fundraiser for Sarcoma UK.

Dr Pragnell, whose training was made tougher as she was recuperating after donating a kidney to her mother, is hoping to raise £15,000 for the national charity.

She said: "This is about more than finishing triathlons, it's about visibility, advocacy, and hope. If one person hears the word 'sarcoma' because of this and gets an earlier diagnosis it will all have been worth it."

The junior doctor wanted to raise money for Sarcoma UK as one of her close friends was diagnosed with the cancer aged just 26.

Ms Pragnell also donated a kidney to her mother less than a year before her challenges started at the end of July.

Following her surgery she was unable to walk more than 200m (656ft) on a treadmill, but built up her fitness to complete the daily challenges of a 1.9km (1.2-mile) swim, 90km (55.9-mile) cycle, and 21.1km (13.1-mile) run - totalling up to eight hours per day.

When completed, Ms Pragnell will have travelled 1,000km (621.4 miles) across national parks throughout the country.

Her final challenge will be in her home county of Derbyshire in the Peak District National Park on 14 August.