Nailsea mum puts her heart into running London Marathon
By Carol_Deacon | Wednesday, March 02, 2011, 10:30
A Nailsea marathon runner is putting her heart into fundraising.
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Betsy has worked for Let's Walk since 2002. Photo by Sarah Ridge
Betsy Bebbington who is the company director of Let’s Walk outdoor and travel wear shop inthe town centre is about to take on the challenge of a lifetime.
She is becoming a ‘heart runner’ in the London Marathon to help raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
Betsy, aged 46, will be donning her official BHF Heart Runners vest and running the 26.2 mile course on Sunday, April 17.
She is hoping to raise as much money as possible, to help the charity beat heart and circulatory disease – the UK’s biggest killer.
Betsy said: “I decided to take part because in the past two years my two brother-in-laws, my mother- in-law, my son and a colleague's father have all been treated at the Bristol Heart Institute.
“It is a very difficult time for those receiving the treatment, their families and friends.
“I wanted to do something more positive to help.
“The British Heart Foundation does great work to support those who require it, and fund research into one of this country's biggest killers.
“I have been running for three years and this will be my sixth marathon.”
Betsy has put her goal at running the London Marathon sub 3h 30m and raising £2,000.
To raise money and awareness Betsy has sponsor forms and collection boxes at Let’s Walk at Colliers Walk.
She said: “All donations will be gratefully received.”
BHF head of events Nancy Prior said: “Thanks to Betsy for joining the British Heart Foundation’s Heart runner’s team – with support like this we really can beat heart disease together.
“Far too many people die prematurely from heart disease and, for those that survive, life can be frightening and hard.
“All funds raised by the Heart Runners team will help ensure the BHF can continue to save thousands of lives through our groundbreaking research and innovative prevention and care work.”
BHF is dedicated to saving lives through pioneering research, patient care, campaigning for change and by providing vital information.
Comments
A thank you message from Betsy who said: "I completed the 26.2 mile race slower than I had planned, from mile two, I knew that 3.30 was not going to happen, I just eased up a little and aimed to get around safely, I ran a reasonably even race and crossed the finish line in 3 hrs 44mins. Running for the British Heart Foundation was a great experience, they had some great ‘cheering points’ on the course which helped us all along. You are aware that the discomfort that you are feeling during the race is only for a short period, you can think to yourself ‘shut up legs, get on with it’ however there are some with heart disease where they have challenges for far longer and can have their lives affected dramatically. I have raised £1,400.00 so far for the British Heart Foundation, this will allow them to continue to save thousands of lives through their ground breaking research and innovative prevention and care work. I would like to thank all those in the Nailsea area who sponsored my run, donations are still being received in Let’s Walk, Nailsea or http://tinyurl.com/3n3btkp Nailsea People is happy to be among those who made a donation to Betsy's run.
By Carol_Deacon at 08:13 on 19/04/11
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