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91-year-old thrill seeker Molli faces new challenge

Rob Dawson
23/ 7/2008

MOLLI Turner has already done a 175ft abseil and a skydive is next on the list - but the real thrill for the 91-year-old is raising money for charity.

Molli, who has lived in Cheadle Hulme her entire life, began fundraising for St Ann's Hospice in Heald Green almost 40 years ago.

Her most daring stunt to date was an abseil - dressed as a baby - down the ICL Tower in Gorton.

And while that got Molli into the Guinness Book of Records, she has now set her sights on bigger, better, and it seems higher, things.

"I would love to jump out of a plane," she said. "As long as I was strapped to someone else."

Plans for the sponsored skydive, however, have been put on hold while Molli recovers from a leg injury, but she remains confident she will fulfil her ambition by the end of the year.

And will that last stunt signal the end of Molli’s fundraising career?

"Oh my goodness, no. I will do it until the day I die," she said "At my funeral there will be a large bucket by the door. It’s going to shock some people but no-one will get away with it!"

Molli, pictured here, has spent quite a lot of time at the hospice after undergoing three major cancer operations - and she could not speak higher of the place that has been so influential in her recovery.

"It is the most wonderful place in the world," said Molli, who set up the first St Ann’s charity shop in Station Road in Cheadle Hulme more than 30 years ago.  The staff are fantastic. They could never pay those nurses enough," she told us.

Molli was awarded an MBE in 2001 for her fundraising efforts - which have totalled more than £200,000 - and although she said she felt very proud to receive the award, she did have one or two complaints about the awards ceremony on the day.

"We never got so much as a cup of tea," joked Molli. "And we had to fight to get our picture taken. But I enjoyed the day. It is a terrific honour."

Outside her fundraising activities, Molli has been a member of the Cheadle Hulme Players Dramatic Society since she was 16, and she hopes to get back playing golf - as soon as her doctor will allow.

What he will say about a 13,000 ft skydive on the other hand, only he knows.

Do you know someone doing something extraordinary like Molli, or who has an interesting story to tell? You can email us

stockportexpress@menwen.co.uk  or call our newsdesk on 475 4834 and we’ll publish their story too.