Come on Aileen!

News from the RSPB site

RSPB member embarks on inspirational crusade for her favourite charity.

Lifelong bird enthusiast Aileen Doherty, 56, is so passionate about our conservation work that she has vowed to visit ALL our UK nature reserves with public access in the coming years.

The RSPB has 200 nature reserves all around the UK, with a range of wildlife and terrains.

Aileen will endure wetland, heathland, woodland flat walks and hilly walks, all with some of the most amazing wildlife the country has to offer.
A remarkable journey

One of the catalysts for Aileen's decision to embark on this project is her recovery from cancer – making it even more remarkable.

She is currently in remission and feeling well but having seen fellow patients relapse and be unable to continue being so active it has completely changed her outlook. She took early retirement and is embracing her free time with open arms.

Aileen says: 'I don't want to look back in fifteen years and think 'I wish'. I want achieve something while I'm well and alive.

'I find being outdoors with nature very therapeutic and I now have a big wall map with all RSPB sites on it. I'm going to add a red sticker to every site I visit – I don't care how long it takes, I just know that if I keep going out and getting the fresh air it will help keep my demons at bay!'

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