Running up the miles for Cancer Focus NI
Big-hearted east Belfast woman Gillian Logan has clocked up a huge number of miles for Cancer Focus Northern Ireland – and raised £2,645 for the charity.
Gillian (32) completed ten half marathons in 100 days and the cash she raised will help local cancer patients and their families.
Gillian Logan, left, half marathon runner supreme!
The energetic IT expert took up running six years ago, and hasn’t stopped since, continuing to increase her distances and the number of races she takes part in. She decided she would like to put all her efforts to good use by raising funds for charity at the same time.
A member of Orangegrove Athletics Club, Gillian took part in Lisburn, EAMS Knockathon Greenisland, Ards and Dervock half marathons.
She also ran in Cookstown, Kells and Connor (near Ballymena), Dublin, Groomsport and Kilkeel. Her grand finale was the Great North Run in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne on the 100th day of her challenge on September 11.
“I had five weeks of one race a week, and there was one weekend when I had two back-to-backs on Saturday and Sunday, which was very hard work and I really had to gear up for that,” she laughed.
“It has always been my ambition to run the Great North run for charity and I was particularly delighted to be doing it to raise funds for Cancer Focus NI. It was be a brilliant way to end my challenge.
“Cancer is such a common disease with one in three people developing it in their lifetime. I feel it’s so important to help those who are going through such a difficult time in their lives, to educate people about how to lower their risk of cancer and also to fund new research, all of which Cancer Focus NI does,” she said.
“My grandmother was a breast cancer survivor, so I’m very conscious of the importance of finding better ways of diagnosing the disease and developing new treatments. I really enjoyed my challenge – it’s a fantastic feeling to be able to use your hobby to help other people.”
Gillian covered all her costs for travel, accommodation and entry fees herself so that every penny that’s donated goes to Cancer Focus NI. She would like to thank everyone for their donations so far.
Anyone who would still like to make a donation to Gillian’s challenge, please visit
http://www.justgiving.com/Gillian-Logan3
If you have any concerns about cancer call the Cancer Focus NI free Nurseline and speak to a specialist nurse on 0800 783 3339, Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm.
