A WORCESTER woman has taken on the challenge of achieving a different task for each of the 60 weeks in the run up to her 60th birthday next year.

Judy Starkie, from Kennet Green, off Newtown Road, Worcester, has kicked off the challenges by climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge while on holiday in Australia.

The administration worker for Worcestershire NHS Primary Care Trust is being sponsored by friends and family to raise funds for St Richard’s Hospice, as a thank you for supporting her husband Alan who has multiple sclerosis.

Mr Starkie has been attending St Richard’s Day Hospice for the last six months and has recently had a stroke.

Mrs Starkie said: “Coming to St Richard’s has been so beneficial for Alan and when I gave him the choice of which charity to raise money for from my challenges he had no hesitation in nominating St Richard’s.”

Her tasks so far have varied from climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge to eating 60 jelly beans and touching her toes 60 times.

Of the Sydney experience, she said: “It was amazing and not as difficult as feared as it is steps all the way.

“You are attached to a wire and feel really safe.

“In total it took us about two hours and the views are utterly stunning.

“When we reached the top the group with us sang Happy Birthday as I told them it was the start of my 60 weeks of celebrating my birthday.

“The views were breath-taking and we both felt a real sense of achievement; definitely well worth doing.” Mrs Starkie said a lot of people had come forward with suggestions about what she can do next but said she has rejected sitting in a bath of jelly.

“People are enjoying not quite knowing what I’m going to do next,” she said. “The real challenge is keeping the momentum going for 60 weeks. It’s a long time.”

Mrs Starkie’s activities will take her up to her 60th birthday on Friday, June 22nd, 2012.

To sponsor her visit just giving.com/Judy-Starkie