Castletown woman Mina Patel is aiming to raise £1,000 for every year she has been alive.

When Mina celebrated her 60th birthday she did so with a vow to raise £60,000 for six local charities: Wish Upon a Dream, Cancer Research, Manx Cancer Help, British Heart Foundation, Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation and the Hyperbaric Chamber:

Since her appeal began Mina has undertaken a number of fundraising activities and events, including sari wraps at the Snaefell summit for Indian Hill Station nights, and temporary tattoos.

So far Mina has raised around £8,000 towards her target and she now has her eye on the Parish Walk to give a boost to her total.

She has recruited a number of the walkers already entered in this year’s race, including Andrew Titley, Kim Lamb, Matt Lamb, Jane Oates, Amy Dunne and Vanisha Patel, to use it to raise funds for her appeal.

But she is looking for more Parish Walkers to join them, as she explained: ’I’m going to do the walk myself and I’d like to have 60 people doing it together to help me raise money.’

Mina and her husband, Mahendra, have been in business in Castletown for 31 years in their shop, Castle Pharmacy. Mahendra has been chairman of Castletown Commissioners on three occasions and was a commissioner for more than 12 years.

Mina’s favourite pastime/hobby when she is not working is cooking, especially Indian cuisine, and she is so good that she taught the subject for several years at University College Isle of Man..

She said: ’I love cooking!

’Any time I can go in the kitchen I’ll go and cook something.’

Her food has also been a part of her fundraising as she has done cooking demonstrations and catering for bridge clubs and Christmas parties in aid of the appeal.

She says that she would love to do more demonstrations if she can find a venue.

As an extra incentive and a ’thank you’ for anyone doing the Parish Walk in aid of her appeal, Mina is planning to cook a dinner for all of them after the event.

If you are doing the Parish Walk and you would like to use it to benefit Mina’s fundraising, get in touch with her by email - [email protected] or by calling 420587 or 823512