Fundraiser's Saharan challenge in memory of friend

A fundraiser who completed two marathons in two days in the Sahara desert says the memory of her friend kept her going.

Louise Wright, 29, was killed when she was hit by a lorry while riding her bike to work in Nottingham in 2014.

Coleen Coxon has taken on a year of fundraising to mark 10 years since Ms Wright's death.

As part of this, she took on a "hot and tiring" challenge on 11 and 12 October, walking a total of 57 miles (92km) over both days in the Sahara desert.

Ms Wright was crossing the junction of Lower Parliament Street and Pennyfoot Street on her bike when a lorry driver turned left without indicating, dragging her under the wheels.

The driver was given a suspended sentence in 2016.

A decade after Ms Wright's death, Ms Coxon wanted to pay tribute to her friend and let her family know she "hadn't been forgotten" by fundraising for the charity Brake.

She previously completed a Nordic-walk marathon and four ultra challenges and walked a total of 238 miles (382km).

The Saharan Ultra challenge involved walking for 10 hours a day in temperatures reaching 32C.

Ms Coxon said Sharon Brown, Ms Wright's mum, gave her a "lovely card" and a picture of the three of them together which she took on the challenge with her.

"I just felt as though I had them with me, supporting me and giving me the oomph to keep on going and not give up," she said.

She added: "I still can't believe I've done it. I was the least sporty person at school so if I can do it, anybody can do it."

Ms Brown, from Loscoe in Derbyshire, previously said she "thinks the world" of Ms Coxon for fundraising and helping to keep her daughter's memory alive.

She said: "Louise was a lovely daughter, she was beautiful inside and out."

She described Ms Coxon's fundraising efforts as "incredible", and added: "I'm very proud of her for what she's doing and for such a good cause as well.

"Brake is a really good charity raising awareness of road safety and supporting bereaved families."

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