By Alana Mitchelson
PAKENHAM’S Jake Ward hopes to raise more than $50,000 for breast cancer research next month by challenging himself to a 1500-kilometre run over 30 days from the Gold Coast to Cranbourne.
This will be Jake’s third campaign raising funds and awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, a charity he holds close to his heart after breast cancer took the lives of his aunt and cousin.
He ran 110 kilometres across the City of Casey to raise about $8000 in 2013, before undertaking a 16-day 1000-kilometre journey from Sydney to Cranbourne, raising more than $40,000 the following year.
Jake received a significant boost to his current fund-raising efforts on Sunday 16 October when his father-in-law Andrew Brown, from Andrew’s Autos, single-handedly donated $5000.
Mr Brown held a car show with a barbecue and raffles that contributed a further $1700 towards his son-in-law’s cause.
“It all started off when my cousin Samantha passed away from breast cancer. She was only 31 at the time,” Jake said.
“A few years after that, my aunty on the other side of my family had breast cancer and passed away during recovery.
“This year I’m aiming to raise $51,725.95. It’s a very precise figure because it would mean that across three campaigns, I would have raised an overall total of $100,000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.”
Recently friends of his jazzed up a car, loaned from Andrew’s Autos, that will drive alongside Jake as he runs 50 kilometres a day for 30 days straight next month.
“I feel like a little kid before Christmas at the moment,” Jake said.
“While most people are enjoying the day off on November 1 over the long weekend, I’ll be beginning my run.
“I play football all year, I lift weights and go to the gym, but the preparation is just about building up mentally. There’s only so much running you can do.
“As I learned during the Sydney to Melbourne run, although I trained three to four times a day in the lead-up, on the fourth day my body broke down and if I hadn’t prepared mentally it could’ve been over after 200 kilometres.”
Jake is expected to finish his run at about 4pm on Wednesday 30 November at Cherryhills Drive, Cranbourne.
He has so far raised about $18,000 for charity.
“I am absolutely so appreciative of every single dollar people donate. I am really grateful for everyone’s support,” he said.
To follow Jake Ward’s journey or support his cause, visit everydayhero.com/au/jakewardgc and www.facebook.com/jakeward1500kms.
