An 84-year-old woman became one of the top finishers in a marathon in Altrincham, UK, on Sunday. In Sunday’s race, Barbara Thackray, accompanied by her son James, recorded a chip time of 1:26:45, according to a report in Altrincham Today News.
The 84-year-old started running at the age of 77. During the lockdown, she started running 20 kilometers (12 miles) every week, saying the exercise kept her body going.
“I think it allows us to keep our bodies going,” she told the… BBC.
Ms. Thackray raised money for St. Ann’s Hospice in Heald Green, where her late sister Audrey was a patient, the outlet said.
According to Altrincham Today News, she has already exceeded 1,200 pounds (Rs 1.11 lakh) in total. Ms. Thackray has gone to great lengths to prepare for the marathon. She ran 10 km twice a week and has no plans to get rid of her running shoes yet.
Mrs. Thackray’s son, James, had come all the way from Hong Kong to start with her. He was quoted as Sayung by the outlet: “I’m incredibly proud, she did a great job motivating others to go running and getting us all involved in her participation in races.”
“When you’re 84 you can’t afford to lose it. When you’re 70 you can start new things, but I’m not convinced you can when you’re 80 so I wanted to Don’t risk it,” said Mrs Thackray.
“I am so happy to have run the race alongside my son James and to share the love I have for running with him,” she added.
She also said St Ann’s Hospice was an “incredible cause” to run for. The organization headquartered in Heald Green is raising money to build a new hospice close to the existing one.