A WESTBURY woman has completed her challenge to run five marathons over a year, a challenge which is raising money for the charity that helped her through her illness.
Jan Mojsa’s challenge has taken her all over the world, running marathons in San Francisco, Barcelona, Edinburgh and Cologne. On Sunday she completed her grand finale, the New York Marathon.
Jan said, “It was a fabulous run with amazing supportive crowds. And I have to say, running the mara-thon is probably the best way to get to see and know New York. It takes in all five boroughs, crossing several bridges. I loved crossing the bridge from Staten Island to Brooklyn – there were the wonderful iconic fireboats in the river spraying water high in the air – it was a fantastic sight.”
2011 is an important year for Jan as it marks five years since she was diagnosed and treated for cancer. She is celebrating this important milestone in her recovery by running five marathons and hopes to raise £5,000.
She is fundraising for Macmillan, who supported her through the illness, and which is celebrating the charity’s 100th anniversary this year.
Jan, who works as a psychotherapist, says she has taken the challenge in her stride. “Unfortunately I haven’t had the chance to do as much training as I wanted to – I’m finishing a PhD as well as work – and my times haven’t been fast by any means,” she said. “What’s been important for me is to stay injury- free. It’s been great, going to different places which I chose because they were my favourite places, and seeing friends. And New York is every runner’s dream!
“Cologne was a really interesting one because that happened on the weekend it was blistering hot here – and Cologne was even hotter, so that was a really tough race.
“Running has been a way of getting fit and I always know I’m well when I’m running. I love running, it’s not a hardship for me. I’m often out running in the streets of Westbury or up on the White Horse which is one of my favourites.”
Jan has already raised around £3,000 and hopes the completion of her fifth marathon will push her fundraising total up to her target. You can sponsor Jan through her JustGiving page at www.justgiving. com/ jansmarathons, where there is also a link to the video she has made of her challenge.
Macmillan works to improve the lives of people affected by cancer, providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support while pushing for better cancer care.
