A BELLRINGER from Barnard Castle is to take part in her first triathlon this weekend to raise cash for charity in memory of her mum.
Helen Scott, who rings the bells at St Mary’s Church, will be taking part in the Teesdale Triathlon on Sunday, September 18, to raise cash for Parkinson’s UK.
Her mum, Anne Barker, lived with the disease for 15 years before her death in March 2021.
Mrs Scott said: “Parkinson’s eventually prevented her tending her garden as her mobility and balance were affected, but she continued to live at home with live-in carers for the last few years.
“This was all very difficult for such an independent farmer’s wife who was used to hard, physical work, and who did not like to ask for help.
“We were all very proud of the way that she dealt with her changing physical and mental states, as Parkinson’s took a tighter hold on her.”
Mrs Scott’s husband, Chris, and sons, Christopher and Andrew, have previously taken part in the Teesdale Triathlon, and had previously tried to encourage her to take part.
Despite being a keen cyclist, it wasn’t until this year that she became convinced.
The event starts with a 400m swim in the pool at Teesdale Leisure Centre, followed by an 18-mile cycle and ending with a three-mile run.
The cycle section starts at the leisure centre and heads out to Staindrop before turning towards Folly Top and then returning to Barney.
The run will take the form of a loop around to Stainton.
Mrs Scott said: “It is an undulating course and I will struggle with that. I am looking forward to seeing if my legs will hold up after the other two [stages].”
Mrs Scott has established a fundraising website which has already raised more than £500 for the charity.
Mrs Scott said: “People are very generous and I am very impressed by their support.”
She will be joined in the triathlon by her son, Andrew, his girlfriend Lauren and a bellringing friend.
People can support the fundraising effort by visiting justgiving.com/fundraising/Helen-Scott63
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
