A COURAGEOUS Herefordshire mum is hoping it will be second time lucky when she takes on a mammoth 29-mile walk in memory of her teenage daughter next month.

Kilpeck resident Annie MacDougall is determined to complete the trek this time around and raise more than £1,000 for the county branch of the Samaritans on June 13.

The 49-year-old turned to volunteering for the charity after her daughter Morvern died suddenly in her sleep just a week before her 16th birthday in 2004. Doctors said it was due to bronchial pneumonia, but Annie said no-one really knew why it happened.

“After going through that, I thought maybe I could use it to help someone else through hard times in their life,” she said.

Morvern had profound disabilities after suffering a bout of meningitis aged two. Her death left Annie and her family in complete shock.

After the former Barrs Court pupil passed away, Annie tried a similar walk in Surrey and managed around 20 miles in the time allotted for those taking part, which is usually announced on the day.

“I was so cross when I was told I hadn’t made it in time to complete the long walk, and had to take the short route back,” Annie said.

But now she is determined to make it to the finish line on time at this year’s event in Inverness so that more can be done to increase awareness of the charity and its services in Herefordshire.

All sponsorship raised will go directly towards helping the Samaritans answer 5.3 million calls nationwide a year while continuing its work in local schools, colleges and community centres.

To sponsor Annie, or for a form to be displayed in your relevant workplace or business, call 07747 397455 between 9am and 9pm.