79-year-old Grace Burns plans to celebrate her 80th birthday in style next week, by completing an epic running challenge to support cancer patients like herself.
Starting tomorrow, the ’80-8-80 Challenge’ will see Grace jog 80 miles across eight days – with the challenge due to be completed on her 80th birthday on Tuesday 16th June.
£870 has already been raised by Grace in aid of hospital charity Leeds Cares for her chosen cause, Breast Cancer Action – a community group that works to support research into breast cancer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
35 years ago, Grace had a mastectomy, followed by nine years of treatment to become cancer-free. Unfortunately, in 2008 the cancer returned in her sternum. She attends the breast clinic twice a year for scans and blood tests under Dr Jackson.
Grace’s husband Andrew is also a patient at Leeds Cancer Centre, and they celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary last year by raising funds to mark the occasion. The couple raised over £1,500 in support of Leeds Cancer Centre!
GraceGrace said:
“Both my husband and I have cancer – We’d like to say a huge thank you to Leeds Cancer Centre for looking after me for over 35 years and for treating my husband since last year.”
A member of Kippax Harriers running club since 1987, Grace will be running every morning from her home in Garforth along ‘The Lines Way’ to Allerton Bywater and back. Family members, friends and running club members will be supporting her joining her at times along the route.
She estimates each day will consist of 3-3½ hours of running.
Support Grace here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/80-8-80
