Coffee and commitment: how a NE beauty tech plans to nail a 24-hour challenge

Lucy Walton, from Skullen Studios, has set herself a 24-hour nail marathon challenge.

Tyneside nail technician Lucy Walton is challenging herself to complete a non-stop 24-hour beauty marathon to raise money for charity.

From 10am on Friday 28 November Lucy is aiming to complete 16 appointments, at 90 minutes each, without sleep.

She’s doing so to raise funds for Tiny Lives, an independent charity which “supports and champions premature and sick babies and their families across the Newcastle neonatal service”, helping about 800 families a year – and which describes what Lucy is doing is “absolutely wonderful”.

Lucy, who works at Skullen Studios in Newcastle and has been a nail technician for about four years, said: ‘I’ve had a lot of clients come to me who’ve said they have been aided or supported or comforted by Tiny Lives, and it just felt right to do something for them.”

She created a list of 30 things she wanted to do before turning 30, and doing something big for charity was one of them.

Then, some of her clients inspired her to choose Tiny Lives.

“I’ve had clients come to me who’ve said they have been aided or supported or comforted by Tiny Lives and it just felt right to do something for them,” she said.

Now, some of those clients will be going along during her challenge to cheer her on.

The 28-year-old said: ‘I’m nervous, but what I’m doing for 24 hours is a drop in the ocean compared to what some of these families are going through.”

Her fundraiser is raising money in three different ways: through her JustGiving page, a raffle with local businesses donating prizes, and 50% of each appointment fee will be donated to the fund.

A spokesperson for the charity said it relies on supporters like Lucy: “To maintain our current service we need to raise £580,000 a year and we can only do that through the kindness and generosity of people like Lucy giving up their time and their skills.”

In preparation for the challenge, Lucy is taking a few days off beforehand to make sure she is properly rested, and then limiting her caffeine during the day so she can have more overnight. She is also allowing herself one break in the middle of the challenge for some fresh air and food.

Tiny Lives said every donation counts no matter the amount.

“Even £10 can support a family with a parking pass to ensure that they’re not having to restrict how much they’re with their baby,” said the spokesperson

If you would like to donate to Lucy’s fundraiser follow the link here: Lucy Walton is fundraising for Tiny Lives

Or, if you would like to donate a prize for the raffle, contact Lucy on Instagram @skullenluce or pop into the salon at Skullen Studios, in Warton Terrace, Heaton, Newcastle.