Kay Franklin

Kay, who will be 70 in 2012, has raised thousands of pounds for charity, largely through athletics. She has run 15 marathons (14 London and 1 New York), all of which were sponsored, including for Cancer Research, the Alzheimer`s Society, Prideaux House and Rowan Romania (a charity which she co-founded with fellow Somerset villagers to help psychiatric patients in Romania). She is especially active in frequent fund raising efforts for this cause, and regularly visits Romania (entirely at her own expense) to help oversee this project and deliver donations. In addition, she organises an annual road race in her village, the profits of which go towards local causes (including a pensioners` Christmas Dinner), as well as a junior race to encourage the next generation of athletes. She is also a Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal Collector, has raised money for the Red Cross, and is a local J.P.