WATCH: Dudley Zoo keeper stepping out for cancer charity challenge
A zoo keeper has pledged to walk 10,000 steps a day in March to raise funds for life saving research into cancer in honour of her sister.
Jodie Dryden, who works at Dudley Zoo is taking part in Cancer Research UK’s Walk All Over Cancer challenge.
It comes after her sister Charlie who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2013.
Charlie Dryden, who comes from Wolverhampton, was told she may never have children after chemotherapy.
But Charlie has gone on to have two little boys - Carter, now 3 and Louie, now five months.
Jodie, who is four months pregnant with her first child, said: “It’s thanks to research that my sister survived and went on to have two beautiful boys, so I am really pleased to be supporting Cancer Research UK.
“I want to show that walking 10,000 steps a day is achievable, even for someone who’s pregnant like me. And what better way to get your step count up than by visiting the zoo?”
Jodie wanted to demonstrate how easy it is to get started by filming the first ever 360 video of Dudley Zoo which takes viewers on a whistle stop tour, stopping in to see the lemurs, giraffes and lorikeets up close.
WATCH: Jodie launches the charity challenge
“I’m fortunate that my job is fairly active but not everyone gets to walk around during their working day,” said Jodie. “They need to find more inventive ways to boost their step count which is where a trip to the zoo can help.”
Walk All Over Cancer involves participants getting sponsored to walk 10,000 steps every day for a month during March.
Paula Young, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for the West Midlands, said: “We’d like to thank Jodie for supporting Walk All Over Cancer and creating a wonderful 360 video of the zoo to help spread the word."
Dudley Zoo spokeswoman Andrea Haleser, said: "We're proud to support Cancer Research UK's campaign and encourage everyone to put their best foot forward in achieving their daily 10,000 steps."
To sign up now, visit www.cruk.org/walkallover
