By BRIDGET COOK
CRANBOURNE’S Jake Ward pounded the pavement for 110 kilometres last week to raise money, increase awareness and honour those lost to cancer.
Mr Ward, 28, spent almost 19 hours on Saturday 7 December running around the City of Casey and Frankston to raise as much money as he could for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).
And that he did – managing to generate just over $8000 in donations which will go towards finding a cure for the disease that has taken the lives of those close to him.
Mr Ward set off at 5am last Saturday to start his 110km journey, a distance he chose as it was more than an ultra-marathon of 100km.
He left from his Cranbourne home, ran around Casey, made his way to Lysterfield Park then back to Cranbourne, then headed to Frankston Pier and ran along the beach before returning home.
Mr Ward decided to do the fundraiser for a number of reasons, including the fact so many people were affected by the disease.
“I’ve had a cousin who past away from breast cancer years ago,” he said.
“I’ve also had family and friends affected by this horrible disease.”
Mr Ward said his family does a fundraiser each year, along with his football club, so he decided he would do one by myself and set himself a huge challenge.
He said the run was both physically and emotionally demanding, but the great community support he received kept him going.
“The run, physically, was challenging as my feet and ankles were in so much pain towards the end,” he said.
“Emotionally I was in a great state until I finished, then I cried, but never once thought about giving up.
“The whole run was a highlight – being on Triple M, Nova and SEN was good, having laughs with friends and family along the way, police driving past for a chat and strangers tooting their horn and, of course, finishing.”
Mr Ward said he had a target to raise $5000, so he was overwhelmed to blow that out of the water and received so much support throughout the run.
“I received help all the way,” he said.
“Friends and family saw me start at 5am and my cousin Paul Eaton drove the whole way.
“Then friends and family ran with me almost the whole way and they also met me at certain points to cheer me on.
“I just wanted to thank all the kind people that gave up their time, donated their money and supported me along the way.
“I feel like the luckiest man in the world with the support I received, I felt like a celebrity.”
