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Cycle challenge for baby and aunt killed by driver

Family handout A composite featuring Karlene Warner and Zackary Blades. Karlene is on the left. She has blonde hair in a ponytail and is smiling at the camera. Zackary the baby is sitting and smiling in a field of flowers. He is wearing a baby blue outfit.Family handout
Karlene Warner and her eight-month-old nephew Zackary Blades were killed on the A1(M)

A woman whose daughter and grandson were killed by a speeding drink-driver is undertaking a cycle challenge in their memory.

Karlene Warner, 30, and her eight-month-old nephew Zackary Blades died on the A1(M) in County Durham when they were hit by a driver who was taking a picture of himself driving at more than 140mph.

Alison Warner is cycling from her home in France to County Durham, and is set to arrive in time for what would have been her daughter's birthday.

She is raising money to build a private room in Darlington Hospital for families, after her family used the "haven room" in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) for five days.

Ms Warner, 59, arrived in the UK by ferry on Saturday as part of her 700-mile (1,127km) challenge.

"By doing this, it's keeping them alive in my mind," she said.

"All I want is to make their lives matter."

Family handout Alison Warner riding a bicyle during her cycle challenge. She has blonde hair that is pulled into a ponytail. She is wearing a white helmet and a pink high-vis jacket. She is cycling down a road, a field can be seen to the side.Family handout
Alison Warner will arrive in County Durham on what would have been her daughter's birthday

Ms Warner said she was "not a cyclist", but had been training hard.

"Day two I got caught in continuous rain and everything got soaking wet," she said.

"I honestly don't know how I did it."

Ms Warner said the family room was "much needed" and was shocked to find not every hospital had one.

Her daughter, who was from Ferryhill, had just started her dream job as a flight attendant which had taken her 11 years to get, she said.

Zackary was days away from walking, she added.

"These people were real, with good futures ahead."

Ms Warner plans to arrive in County Durham on 22 October, in time for Karlene's birthday on the 25 October.

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