The director of a Harrogate-based home care provider has raised more than £1,000 for charity after completing the running challenge of a lifetime.
Continued Care director Samantha Harrison ran the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon in York on Sunday, after putting in the miles in training for many months.
She chose to support the Yorkshire Cancer Centre appeal, having seen firsthand the outstanding care given to people with cancer and their relatives. She adds the donations from the marathon to the money she raised at the Leeds 10k in July, bringing the total to £1,100.
However, the road to York was far from smooth. A fall on holiday in August left her with a broken wrist, so running was out of the question for a few weeks – but with support from her daughter Amy, who also ran the marathon with her, she made it to the finishing line.
Samanth said:
I have been training since March and didn’t want to give up just because of a broken wrist.
As my dear friend Louise said to me when I was having self doubts, ‘look at the amazing athletes in the Rio Paralympics’. They have overcome all sorts of challenges to excel in their chosen sports, and it really put my setback into perspective.
I know the amazing work that goes on daily at the Leeds Cancer Hospital looking after patients and their relatives, so I took that as inspiration – it really helped me get round the course.
I said from the outset I didn’t ever want to do another marathon, and I stand by that! So I’m really pleased to have raised so much, and I’m very grateful to everyone who sponsored me.
Samantha is still taking donations for her fundraising for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre. To support her, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Samantha-Harrison25
