A WOMAN with incurable cancer has raised thousands for charity as she takes on the equivalent height of Ben Nevis from her East Oxford living room while donning dozens of homemade costumes.

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Fran Woodcock, who has not left her house since lockdown began due to receiving chemotherapy for leukaemia, has now received national recognition for her efforts winning a Telegraph Lockdown Award.

Out of 1,500 people nominated she came top of the ‘Crafty Creation’ category for her inventive fundraising.

Oxford Mail:

Dalek costume from Doctor Who

She said: “I decided to use the time by climbing the equivalent height of Ben Nevis (1,345m) on a treadmill in my sitting room - I was due to climb the real thing in May to celebrate five years of living with cancer, having been diagnosed when I was just 29, but of course that was no longer possible."

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The 34-year-old said the addition of costumes had started accidentally when she wore the walking gear she would have used for the real thing 'as a joke'. She added: "People really liked it and so I asked for suggestions and am still working through them now."

Miss Woodcock, who is due to reach the half-way point of her target tomorrow, said the costumes are all made from things she already has in the house, adding: “Lots of recycling, crocheted items and repurposed cat toys have been involved. So far I’ve made over 20 costumes and still have almost as many to go before I finish my climb.”

Oxford Mail:

Easter Bunny costume

They have included Yoda, a Dalek, the Wicked Witch of the West, the Easter Bunny, and a ballet dancer.

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All this is being done to raise money for Shine Cancer Support, a national charity that supports people in their 20s, 30s and 40s with cancer.

Miss Woodcock set up the Oxford branch of Shine in 2016, and it now has nearly 100 members.

Oxford Mail:

Mountain goat costume

She said: “Shine has been hit really hard by the pandemic as all of its major fundraising events were cancelled, but its services are needed now more than ever - just because the whole world has stopped doesn’t mean that cancer has.”

Ms Woodcock has so far raised more than £8,000 via justgiving.com/fundraising/franwoodcock and regular updates her Facebook page.