London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Sep 17, 2026

106-Year-Old Fundraiser Gets The Prime Minister's Honour In UK

106-Year-Old Fundraiser Gets The Prime Minister's Honour In UK

Joan Willett walked 17 miles ahead of her 104th birthday to raise 60,000 pounds (roughly ₹ 6100,600) for the British Heart Foundation.
A British centenarian woman has demonstrated that age is no barrier to doing good charitable work. The 106-year-old Joan Willett, who overcame two heart attacks, is an amazing person for more reasons than just her astonishing age.

When most people would have chosen to relax and recuperate at this age and after experiencing significant health issues like cardiac arrest, Mrs Willett raised 60,000 pounds (roughly ₹ 6100,600) for those suffering from heart-related illnesses.

The Metro reported that Mrs Willett, a former teacher who had survived a heart attack in her 80s, used her second chance at life to help others and earn money for charity. She was motivated to use her everyday workout to support heart research after seeing Captain Tom on TV during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And now just ahead of her 107th birthday, she's received a Points of Light Award from the prime minister, given to ordinary people doing extraordinary things for their community.

According to the British Heart Foundation, Joan Willett won the nation's heart by walking more than 17 miles up and down a hill outside her Hastings care home during lockdown leading up to her 104th birthday, raising over 60,000 pounds (roughly ₹ 6100,600) for our lifesaving research in the process.

Dr. Charmaine Griffiths, our chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, said: "Joan is such an exceptional person. Her incredible fundraising for the BHF during the pandemic touched all of our hearts, and it's just wonderful to see her recognised by the Prime Minister and the Points of Light awards.

"Having been a heart patient herself, she knows just how important research is, and the 60,000 pounds she raised will fund more research to help countless others live long and fulfilling lives-just like Joan."

According to Mrs Willett, she underwent bypass surgery and had a heart valve replaced to help her live to 100 and beyond. She now wants to see others have the same opportunity.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Asthma Charity Warns of Major Gaps in Childhood Diagnostic Testing Across England
TUC Chief Paul Nowak Appointed to Bank of England Court
Bristol Opens £35 Million Deep-Tech Innovation Hub at Temple Quarter
Oxfordshire Village Votes Symbolically to Leave UK Over Asylum Housing Plan
Andy Burnham Deepens UK Defense and AI Cooperation With NATO and Canada
UK Government Announces Neonatal Safety Reforms After Thirlwall Inquiry
Bank of England Weighs Rate Decision as UK Inflation Rises to 3.1%
UK Health Unions Warn of Staffing Pressures as Public and Private Pay Growth Diverges
Rockstar Games Faces Tribunal Claims From 23 Former Grand Theft Auto VI Developers
UK Treasury Faces Tighter Budget Constraints as Borrowing Costs and Pension Spending Rise
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Sets Out Ten-Year Plan for Greater Public Oversight of Utilities
UK Economy Grows 0.4% in July as Services and Technology Activity Strengthen
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Leaders Coordinate Push for UK Constitutional Change
Police Tighten Public-Order Measures After Anti-Immigration Protests in Dover and Portsmouth
UK Ministers Pressed for Answers After US Diplomat Accused of Child Abuse Images Leaves Britain
Jaguar Land Rover Pursues NATO Defense Contracts for Defender Vehicles
British Service Member Dies in Road Accident While Deployed in Ukraine
George Osborne Calls for Britain to Rejoin EU Customs Union
Anthropic Chief Dario Amodei Urges Faster UK Action on Advanced AI Risks
UK State Pension Set for 3.9% Rise Under Triple Lock
UK Labour Market Cools as Payrolled Employment Continues to Decline
Reform UK’s £72 Million in Donations Faces Scrutiny Under Proposed Retrospective Funding Rules
UK Doctors Warn Expanded Pharmacy First Scheme Could Put Patients at Risk
British Airlines Cut Short-Haul Capacity as Jet Fuel Costs Rise
UK News Publishers Forecast 40% Search Traffic Drop as AI Overviews Expand
Axel Springer Wins Approval for £575 Million Daily Telegraph Acquisition
London Mayor Sadiq Khan Opposes Heathrow Third Runway Over Climate Targets
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Leaders Hold Summit Seeking Greater Autonomy
UK Energy Price Cap Set to Rise to £1,723 in October
UK Treasury Warns Middle East Conflict Is Threatening Economic Growth
Labour Moves to Retrospectively Cap Overseas Political Donations After Reform UK Funding Surge
HMRC Warns Nearly Seven Million Adults Are Unclear About State Pension Entitlements
UK Parliament Passes Sovereign Grant Reform Before Conference Recess
British Rail Passengers Gain Automatic Right to Switch Operators During Disruptions
Burnham Hosts Downing Street Business Summit as UK Fiscal Pressure Builds
Labour Government Moves to Challenge £72 Million in Reform UK Crypto Donations
UK Advertising Industry Warns Wider Junk Food Rules Could Put £1 Billion in Media Spending at Risk
Cornwall Opens Devolution Talks With UK Government Over Transport and Local Services
UK Parliament Considers Sovereign Grant Reform Setting Royal Funding at £99.9 Million
Trades Union Congress Calls for Income-Based Energy Tariff Funded by Higher Bank Levy
UK Prime Minister Rejects Second Scottish Independence Referendum
House of Lords Begins Scrutiny of Bill to Lower UK Voting Age to 16
Anthropic Says Claude Was Exploited in Weapons-Related and State-Linked Cyber Activity
Institute of Directors Urges UK Government to Avoid Business Tax Increases in Autumn Budget
Rising Gilt Yields Cut UK Fiscal Headroom to About £13 Billion Ahead of Budget
UK Economy Grows 0.4% in July as Services and Technology Activity Strengthen
UK Government Promises Clearer Student Loan Guidance After Repayment Backlash
Charities Warn Unpaid Carers May Die Before Receiving Government Compensation
Dover Unrest Prompts Review of UK Counter-Extremism Strategy
Celtic Summit Leaders Reassert Right to Pursue Independence From UK
×