A TULLIBODY woman faced her fear to trek more than 50 miles in two days during an overseas expedition.

Keen walker Sandra Curl, 41, is no stranger to a challenge and has completed around 18 full marathons since she picked up the exercise in 2012.

However, last month she went even further by taking on The Iceland Challenge, a four-day event that would see her test her limits.

She said: "I have always wanted to do an overseas challenge and this came up with 200 places and I was lucky enough to secure a place.

"I have a major fear of water so the river crossings were huge for me and I found it very tough mentally – with the help of fellow participants I managed them all.

"I will never say I enjoyed them but [I'm] very proud for achieving them – the water was freezing."

Sandra first took up walking around four years ago to aid her weightloss, after realising she was finding it difficult to run around after her then three-year-old daughter.

A healthy eating plan in conjunction with increased exercise saw her shed around five stone and she also combined fitness with fundraising, raising thousands.

Towards the end of last year, with a few pounds having crept back on, she decided she was in need of a new challenge or two.

She settled on some of her biggest yet and from May took on the London MoonWalk, London to Brighton 50k and The Iceland Challenge in aid of breast cancer charity Walk the Walk.

She was also all set to participate in the 52.4 mile Over the Moon in Edinburgh but developed fluid on the lung and had to pull out at mile eight.

However, she didn't let this get in the way and was back in fighting spirit for her trip abroad in July.

She said: "The first day was the equivalent of climbing Ben Nevis which was the most challenging of the two days: crossing snow plains, ash plains, a descent of sulphur mud which was so tough walking through, the smell was awful and stuck to your feet like glue. 

"Camping for two nights was another challenge in itself – a two man tent a metre apart proved for very little sleep and no darkness also was very strange. 

"[The] second day seen more river crossings and scrambling down rock face using a rope also – although the climb wasn't as tough there were a lot of endless paths, mentally very challenging."

Sandra, who works at Menstrie petrol station, also held a tombola last week at Tullibody's fresh air event which has taken her fundraising for the year to more than £2000.

Next up, will be the London MoonWalk, Edinburgh MoonWalk and the 100km for British Heart Foundation from Glasgow to Edinburgh in 2017.