Nailed it! NE beautician smashes 24-hour fundraiser

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

A Tyneside nail technician has raised over £2,000 during a 24-hour nail-a-thon for the charity Tiny Lives.

Lucy Walton completed 16 sets of nails, going without sleep for the whole period, and raised money through her Just Giving Page, a raffle, and appointment fees.

Spark Sunderland visited a nervous Lucy at the start of her challenge on November 28 and again 24 hours later, when she was running on adrenaline.

Speaking before the event, she said: “I’m excited, mostly, but I’m a bit nervous – but I think once I see clients, once I see people, I think I’ll be alright.”

Lucy went on to complete all her appointments with one break for dinner, and said the early hours of the morning were the toughest to get through.

“It got into 3am and 4am and I was like ‘Oh my god, I don’t think I can do this’,” she said.

Nails by Lucy Walton from Skullen Studios

Despite this, she powered on and minutes after her last appointment, Spark Sunderland visited an exhausted but happy Lucy, who said: “I’m tired, but I’m feeling really good, I feel really satisfied with what we’ve done – I’ve smashed my target of two grand.”

Lucy created a list of 30 things she wanted to do before turning 30, and doing something big for charity was on that list.

A few of her clients had opened up to her about how the charity Tiny Lives had supported them through difficult times, and that inspired her to raise money for them.

Skullen Studios is located on Warton Terrace in Heaton.

Tiny Lives is 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 commented on her Instagram post: “We’re in awe of you and this incredible challenge. We can’t thank you enough for your support”.

Lucy’s plans for the rest of the day were to have a well-deserved break and to catch up on some sleep before going back to work – at Skullen Nail Design Studios, in Heaton, Newcastle – on Monday.

Her fundraiser is still available: Lucy Walton is fundraising for Tiny Lives

See the full interview here: