ONCE she was Canon Pyon’s keep fit guru, now Kath Townsend still manages to inspire others - despite having had both legs amputated.

Only a year after receiving her lifechanging surgery, 82-year-old Kath is getting ready to take part in a wheelchair run, part of the Superhero Tri at Dorney Lake, Windsor this Saturday with Hereford’s Wheely Good Fitness. Her refusal to give in to bitterness and simply “get on with it” is a lesson to many, and the reason why even her GP has described her as an “indomitable” woman.

While she had to call it a day for her exercise class, every week members still meet up with Kath for coffee, a chat and much hilarity. What’s more, she is still consulted when the Pyon Players stage their annual pantomime - this year celebrating its 40th anniversary - which Kath founded and directed until five years ago.

“I shall be doing the wheelchair run at Windsor, but as I only have one good shoulder it means I go round in circles! I shall need someone to keep me on the straight and narrow!”

Wheely Good Fitness competitors from Hereford will be taking part on Saturday in support of Scope, which seeks to make the UK a place where disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else.

Kath’s strong sense of humour is undimmed, though while in hospital undergoing surgery for the second amputation – the cause was “genetic” she explains - Kath admits she had to give herself a sharp talking to.

“I thought, there are two ways to go, either you can go right down, or just get on with it.”

She continues: “One night I was feeling particularly uncomfortable, when I suddenly thought of all those men who lost legs during the First World War, while I was in a hospital bed with painkillers. I thought, if they managed it, so can I.”

If asked how she is, Kath is likely to say, “I’m legless!” followed by hoots of laughter.

And the last word from Kath on her bid in this weekend’s Superheroes Tri?

“This year I can go faster than I could when I had two legs: everything has an advantage!”