A Marie Curie nurse covering the Sutton, Wallington and Epsom areas has raised over £1,000 to help the patients she cares for by cycling 380km from Nicaragua to Costa Rica.

Sally Monger Godfrey has been a nurse for the terminal illness charity Marie Curie for over 25 years. In that time she has helped hundreds of patients facing terminal illness and cared for them in their own homes.

Sally said “I knew I wanted to be a nurse from the age of twelve. I completed my nursing training in 1973 and started working for Marie Curie in the early 1990s. Lots of things have changed but the families are still the same. I can remember some of the earliest families I cared for. You never forget them, you drive past their house and remember being with them and how it felt. Even my fellow nursing friends will say ‘I don’t know how you do that job’ but it is not depressing or sad work, it’s very positive and rewarding and you come out happy that you have been able to help.”

“The cycle was very challenging but was really enjoyable too. It’s been an amazing adventure and I'm now back at work doing the job I love. I’ve seen some incredible sights along the way including the start of Hurricane Otto which unfortunately put a halt to our challenge a few kilometres short from the finish line. I funded the trip myself so every penny of the £1,000 I’ve raised so far will allow myself and my colleagues to continue looking after terminally ill patients in their own homes.”

If you are thinking of taking on a challenge for charity in 2017 Marie Curie offer a number of exciting opportunities, please visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/challenge to find out more.

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading charity for people with any terminal illness. The charity helps people living with a terminal illness and their families make the most of the time they have together by delivering expert hands-on care, emotional support, research and guidance.

Marie Curie employs more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, and with its nine hospices around the UK, is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.

Based on information supplied by Emily Akeroyd.