Hartlepool triathlon runner Helen Chalton will be celebrating her 54th birthday by taking on the London Marathon this Sunday. It’s only the second time she has applied, and she’s delighted to have secured a place.
Helen is a keen runner and has taken part in numerous triathlons, including an Ironman that finished with a full marathon. She has also completed the gruelling Great North Run six times and tackled many open‑water swims. This Sunday, however, will be the first time she has taken on a marathon entirely on its own.
The training had been going really well until about six weeks ago, when Helen sustained a foot injury that stopped her from doing any long runs. Refusing to give up, she switched to shorter runs and replaced some of her sessions with cycling and swimming. She’s been fitting all of this around her job in IT at Bestway Healthcare, a pharmaceutical wholesaler that owns Well Pharmacy.
Helen has been supported throughout her training by her husband, Mike, and their son, Alex, who will be travelling with her to London this weekend ahead of the big day on Sunday. She’s also benefited from the fantastic encouragement of friends at her local triathlon club, the Hartlepool Triathletes.
After losing her dad to myeloma and with her mother‑in‑law currently undergoing treatment for lymphoma, Helen chose to run for our charity and has already raised an incredible £695. She’s aiming to complete the marathon in around five hours, though much will depend on how her foot feels on the day. She says she’ll simply be delighted to make it around the course.
We are so excited for Helen and incredibly grateful to her for raising funds to help us beat blood cancer. Supporters like Helen make it possible for us to continue specialist research into new and emerging treatments, particularly those involving stem cells. On Sunday, we’ll be cheering her on every step of the way and can’t wait to hear how she gets on.
You can support her by visiting her fundraising page here.
