OCTOGENARIAN fundraiser ‘Magic’ Mavis is casting a spell on fellow Keighley people to active for charity.

Mavis Richardson, 83, who lives at Farish House in Keighley, is urging friends and supporters to move 150 miles in whatever way they can.

She says people can do whatever they want – such as walking, dancing, swimming, running, riding or rollerblading – to raise £1000 for Dementia Friendly Keighley.

Mavis is herself a former professional dancer, and she recently swam the equivalent in lengths of her age to raise £3,000 for the charity

The pensioner, known to her friends as Magic Mavis, is a tenant of social landlord incommunities’

An Incommunities spokesman said: “Mavis’s determination is truly inspiring as she has to use a walking frame to get around after a fracture five years ago left her living with back pain and numbness in her feet.

“Mavis has set a fundraising target of £1,000 which will go towards helping give carers of people with dementia much needed breaks and also fund equipment at the charity’s drop-in centre.

“Residents at her sheltered scheme are supporting Mavis all the way.”

Support has also been pledged from far and wide including a team of firefighters in Sussex and competitors in the Yorkshire Man Walking Challenge.

Mavis said: “I can’t wait to get started and raise as much money as possible to help Dementia Friendly Keighley.

“It’s wonderful to see family, friends and people I’ve never met get behind this challenge – even toddlers in pushchairs!

“You can clock up the miles in lots of ways - so let’s get moving!”

Sinade Galindo, coordinator at Farish House, has enlisted her own young grandson and granddaughter.

She said: “Mavis is a real inspiration and she said I could add some miles with the pushchair!”

Maggie Marsden, from Dementia Friendly Keighley, said Mavis loved a challenge and was sure the latest one would attract lots of local support.

She added: “We are in awe of this special lady and her commitment to helping people affected by dementia as well as their carers and loved ones.”

Earlier this year Mavis set out to swim 83 lengths of the Keighley pool during Dementia Awareness Week.

She finished the challenge successfully over three days, with support of several friends, including Venture capital the Keighley, chairman Steve Seymour, who swam some of the way with her.

Dementia Friendly Keighley and its volunteers work to make the town more inviting place for people with the condition.

Visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/magicmavis to sign up for Mavis’s latest fundraising campaign.