A determined mother of two, Sharon Shuttleworth, 45, is walking five marathons in five consecutive days across Gloucestershire—just one year after donating a kidney.
Sharon began her challenge on Tuesday, setting off from Lechlade in the west of the county. She will cover 125 miles before finishing in her home village of Highnam, near Gloucester, on Saturday, April 4.
A university student, Sharon is a mother to a 17-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old son. She is raising funds for two vital charities: the Gloucestershire Kidney Patients Association and Alport UK, which supports individuals affected by Alport syndrome.
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Her own family is deeply connected to this cause. Both her husband, Craig, and their daughter Izzy suffer from Alport syndrome, a chronic genetic condition that damages kidney filtering units and often progresses to kidney failure.
In January 2025, Sharon became a kidney donor and entered the National Paired Exchange Programme with Craig. Through a complex six-way donation chain, Sharon donated her kidney to a patient in need, while Craig received a better-suited kidney from another donor.
A year on, Craig is recovering well, free from debilitating symptoms such as nausea and fatigue. Sharon’s marathon walk is her way of giving back to the charities that supported her family throughout their journey.
Sharing her experience at the end of day two, Sharon said, “My toes are quite unhappy with me already, but I’m pushing through. The first day was very hilly with lots of ups and downs, but the beautiful weather made it bearable. It’s been lovely to see family and friends along the route cheering me on.”
One highlight she looks forward to is crossing the Severn Bridge into the Forest of Dean, where her children will join her for part of the walk.
When asked why she chose the intense challenge of completing five marathons in five days, Sharon joked, “I can’t remember why I thought this was a good idea.” She quickly added that fundraising has always been therapeutic for her, especially after meeting inspiring people through the Gloucestershire Transplant Team following her donation.
On her fundraising page, Sharon acknowledges the physical hardship ahead: “There will be fatigue, sore legs, blisters, moments of doubt, and maybe some tears. But whenever it gets tough, I’ll remind myself that living with kidney disease is much harder.”
Her efforts have already raised over £1,500, but Sharon hopes to increase this amount significantly while raising awareness about the importance of organ donation.
“There are 8,000 people in the UK waiting for kidney transplants,” she said. “This challenge is not only about fundraising but also about encouraging people to talk about kidney disease and the lifesaving power of organ donation.”