A DEDICATED mother of three is planning to walk 300 miles to try to raise enough cash to send her graduate daughter abroad to continue her medical studies.

Ved Mangrolia, aged 49, of Ladybridge, Bolton, decided to organise a sponsored walk from Bolton to London when her 24-year-old daughter, Usha, graduated from her BSA Biomedical Science course in last July.

Usha, who attended King's College, London, and is a former Bolton School pupil, has wanted to be a doctor ever since she was a child, so when the chance arose to study in India, her mother wanted to help.

Unfortunately, the cost to send Usha to India would be £60,000 over a six year period.

Mrs Mangrolia wrote to 45 different companies, banks and building societies in Bolton, hoping to raise enough sponsorship for the walk on June 22.

To date though, Mrs Mangrolia, has received only five negative replies and time is running out. If she still hasn't fixed a sponsor by next Sunday, Ved will delay the date of the walk, which she estimates will take her 12-13 days at a rate of 20 miles a day.

Walking is her hobby and she completed 54 km while on holiday in the Himalayas. Although Mrs Mangrolia intended to walk alone, she has asked other students to join her to raise money for their fees. placed an advertisement in BIHE's (Bolton Institute of Higher Education) student magazine, INSPIRE,

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