New Forest rollerskater Liz Feay joining BMW Berlin Marathon to support charity Awamu

A ROLLERSKATING enthusiast who rediscovered her love for the pastime during the Covid lockdown will join a rollerskating marathon in Berlin for charity.

Liz Feay (39), from Lymington, will take part in the BMW Berlin Marathon on Saturday to support Awamu, a charity which helps educate and feed Ugandan women and orphaned children.

Liz, who runs an online directory for bed and breakfasts in the New Forest, said: "I hadn't skated since I was 16 years old.

"But during lockdown, when the roads were empty, I bought a pair of skates so I could get back into it.

"Back in the 1990s I had a pair of Bauer Turbo skates which I loved, so I went out and got a pair of skates as close to those as possible – I feel totally at home in them."

Liz regularly skates with a group in Portsmouth, and will be among a minority of racers taking part in rollerskates instead of inline skates.

"I'm kind of daft doing it in rollerskates because they are heavier and harder to ride in than inline skates," said Liz. "But I've really got back into it.

"I had Covid over the Christmas period and I knew I wanted to do something big afterwards.

"I was looking up large rollerskating events and found out about the Berlin marathon."

She added: "I chose to skate in the marathon in aid of Awamu because I recently learned about their great work at a festival run by them in the Chiltern Hills.

"I have friends who already support their work and I wanted to help too."

To support Liz's fundraising efforts visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/liz-feay