A WREXHAM woman has put on her running shoes to pay her respects to the NHS heroes who have lost their lives due to Covid-19.

Starting on June 1, Melanie Edwards, from Brymbo, decided to run 181km in memory of the 181 NHS workers who have died from the virus across the UK.

Melanie, who works as an occupational therapist at the Countess of Chester Hospital, said she wanted to do something to raise funds as well as remember the NHS heroes.

She told the Leader: “As we are moving out of lockdown and the Clap for Carers event stopped, things are slowly starting to head back to normal.

“I just thought it was important to do something to raise awareness of the lives lost and raise a bit of money.”

Melanie planned to start running at 6.30am on June 1 and continuously run until the challenge was complete which she said was tough with the heat.

She said: “I knew it would be hard but because there’s no shade where I was running it was really hard with the heat.

“Once it cooled down it was much easier and nicer to do.”

Funds raised will be donated to the Countess of Chester hospital to support both staff and patients.

Melanie added: “We did have the national two-minute silence at the start of May in remembrance of the NHS lives that were lost.

“That was really nice but people move on quite quickly.

“I think it’s quite easy for people who don’t wok in the NHS to think we are over the worst of it but I think now is the right moment to reflect.

“It’s been really tough on everyone but within the NHS there’s been a lot of changes to how we work. We’ve had to wear PPE and staff are often off with illnesses.

“I was off for two weeks in March due to asthma which was quite a nerve-wracking time.

“For me, one of the worst parts is visitors not being allowed in to visit loved ones which although is the right thing to do, it’s hard for the patients.

“Especially the elderly, it’s heart-breaking and upsetting for the family.”

Melanie hopes to raise £1,000, anyone wishing to donate can do so online at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/melanie-edwards23