A local woman has raised money for pancreatic cancer research by running continuously for 31 hours along a 100-mile route around the area’s eight landmark white horses.
Clare Timbrell completed the 100-mile run, which started in Marlborough and took her around all the white horses in Wiltshire before finishing back in Marlborough. She reached Westbury’s white horse in the early hours of the morning, facing darkness and heavy rain at 4am.
Clare, from Standerwick, is raising money for Pancreatic Cancer UK after her husband, Drew, was diagnosed with the disease and recently underwent surgery. So far, she has raised over £1,000 for the charity. “I wanted to raise money to help other people in his situation. Even though he hasn’t fully recovered, he was determined for me to complete this run,” Clare said.
The run was part of the White Horse Ultras challenge. “The route was extremely hilly and not very well marked, testing my navigational skills,” Clare explained. “I fought through brambles and stinging nettles and got lost multiple times. I started at 8am and ran for thirty-one and a quarter hours, all day Saturday, through the night (during which it rained constantly), and finished at 3:16pm on Sunday.”
Clare also faced significant mental challenges during the run. “I fought mental battles for many hours and overcame the urge to quit on multiple occasions,” she said.
Pancreatic Cancer UK funds research breakthroughs, campaigns for change, and provides support through its expert nurses. Clare added, “I am very keen to raise funds for this charity to help families who have to go through what Drew has been through, and I am very grateful for any donations.”
To donate to Clare’s JustGiving page visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/clare-timbrell-pancreatic-cancer
