A LOCAL woman has made it her mission to raise money for charity though doing what she loves - running.
Worle-based Gillian Porter, aged 47, first started jogging in 2019 after deciding that she wanted to get healthier. She says: "In 2019 I found myself seriously unfit, overweight, and stuck in a rut, until a friend suggested I try the Couch to 5k app.
"If I'm being honest, I thought the first run would kill me and I had to come home and sit down!
"But I also enjoyed it and the sense of peace and freedom it gave me, so I perservered."
Gillian's love of running managed to stand the test of time throughout lockdown, using virtual running challenges to increase her stamina.
Gillian continues: "I joined the Lands End to John O'Groats challenge, which is 874 miles.
"I was also running our family coffee shop as a takeaway, all our regular customers became interested in what I was doing."
Gillian managed to raise £2,120 on this challenge for Macmillian Cancer Support. The cause hit close to home, since her husband was in remission for cancer.
But Gillian didn't stop there. The London Marathon was in her sights, and she wanted to donate to good causes while completing a personal triumph.
"I looked down the list of charities and came across Make A Wish UK, I read about a little girl called Ellie who was born in the same year as my daughter and is suffering the same cancer my husband is in remission for.
"Her wish was to have her house completely decorated for Christmas.
"At the end of the video, it was revealed the Ellie had sadly passed away a month later.
"I raised £3,009 for Make a Wish UK."
This wasn't the end of Gillian's journey. In 2022, she ran the Weston-super-Mare Christmas Cracker 10k - in a full size Christmas Tree costume.
This year's goal is to tacke the London Landmark Half Marathon, as well as run the London Marathon again and complete the Weston Half Marathon.
Gillian concludes: "My target is to raise another £2,500 for Make a Wish UK as there are so many children in the South West alone just waiting for wishes to be granted."
Visit Gillian's Just Giving page here.
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