Woman’s marathon challenge will help to raise awareness of grandma’s disease
David Lanchester from Diss and Sarah Earles from Beccles are in training for the Ultra Marathon they are running to raise funds for Alzheimer's Research. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2016
A Beccles woman is preparing to undertake a huge challenge to raise money for a charity close to her heart.
Sarah Earles is competing in the Race to the Stones next weekend – an ultra marathon of 100km along the Ridgeway, the oldest footpath in the country.
She will begin next Saturday, July 16 from the Chilterns in Oxfordshire, and will have up to 36 hours to walk or run to the North Wessex Downs, finishing next to the 5,000 year-old stone circle at Avebury.
The 27-year-old said she wanted to complete the trek to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research, after her grandma was diagnosed in 2009.
Miss Earles said: “She has had a long suffering few years and unfortunately with Alzheimer’s it impacts on the family as well as we do feel that we are losing her bit by bit. I just want to raise awareness and help promote the charity. The more people you talk to, the more you realise how it affects so many people.
“I’m a big believer in picking the biggest challenge so I signed up. I think it’s going to come as a huge shock to my system both in my mind and body.
“I started running last year and it quickly spiralled out of control from doing small runs to a half marathon and now the ultra marathon. I go running twice a week and I do yoga for my core fitness.
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“The course is about 62 miles so I am planning to try and run part of it and walk part of it.”
Over the past few weeks Miss Earles has been tackling several long runs to work up to the big day and is hoping her fitness will prevent any injuries along the way.
She is competing with her work colleague David Lanchester, from Diss, who sadly lost a grandparent to the disease.
To sponsor Miss Earles or Mr Lanchester visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/foolishramblers
Are you organising a charity event close to your heart? Email the details to louisa.lay@archant.co.uk or call her on 01502 712060.
