A 72-year-old from Royal Wootton Bassett is taking part in her 55th charity challenge today as part of her quest to make it to 70 challenges.

Kate Crutcher has lost her husband, son and sister to cancer.

She is raising money for the four charities that cared for them.

Kate says her son Colin Crowther was 'so brave, stoic and funny right to the end' before passing away in January with terminal lung cancer.

She lost her sister Doreen Gough to bowel cancer in December and 12 years ago her husband David died aged just 58 with stomach cancer.

Kate has so far raised more than £8,000 for Dorothy House Hospice, Prospect Hospice, Brighter Futures at Great Western Hospital and The Forever Friends Appeal at Royal United Hospitals Bath.

Her challenges so far have seen her shave her head, get dragged from Portishead Marina by a trainee water rescue dog, complete marathons, abseil 90 feet down Great Western Hospital, and climb part of the Great Wall of China.

Today she is running a frothy 5k through coloured bubbles today at Lydiard Park for Brighter Futures.

She is taking part with daughter-in-law Donna Crowther and grandsons Joe and Bobby McGahan.

This is her 55th challenge since her first challenge in May 2017, a marathon that raised £525 for the RUH's new Dyson Cancer Centre.

Kate says at times the challenges have forced her to overcome fears: “I’ve done water challenges when I’m not keen on water.

“I did the 90 foot abseil down Great Western Hospital and my daughter-in-law said I was at the top and looked like I was going to say no I can’t do this, and she was absolutely right. I thought I couldn’t do it, but once I was over the edge I was alright.

"I've lost many family members and close friends to this awful disease and so any challenge I do is nothing in comparison with what these people have endured.

"It's been tough at times but I'm so thankful to have had such wonderful people in my life and without them I would never have found the courage and strength to do so many of of weird and wacky things I've done."

She adds that she has made her family proud: "They have been very proud over the years, and I'm very proud to have been their mum and wife. They went through such a lot."

To donate, visit Kate’s Justgiving pages for Prospect Hospice, Brighter Futures at GWH, The Forever Friends appeal and Dorothy House Hospice.