A MARATHON runner in Bromsgrove has been bestowed a High Sheriff’s award for her charitable efforts which have seen her raise close to £2 million for cancer research.
Gill Punt, head of PE at South Bromsgrove High School was visited by Worcestershire High Sheriff, Ian Smith, who recognised her ‘great and valuable services to the community’.
For nearly 27 years, Gill has continued to raise funds and awareness for cancer charities and to date has raised over £1.97 million for this worthy cause.
She lost her young father to bile duct cancer and this awful event began her fundraising adventures that she undertakes on an unpaid voluntary basis.
She has organised and run various events; a pro-celebrity cricket match, coffee mornings and lots of endurance events.
She has inspired and encouraged a staggering amount of people to join her for 28 marathons (including the 6 World Marathon Majors – 2 of which she completed in one week – London & Chicago), over 70 Half Marathons, over 80 10k runs and numerous ‘Race For Life’ 5ks.
She gained a Guinness World Record at the 2016 London Marathon…dressed as polar bear! This January she achieved a second GWR as the polar bear ran the Arctic Polar Night Marathon in darkness, on ice, in sub-zero temperatures.
Each year she organises teams of runners from South Bromsgrove High School and Bromsgrove School to run the Birmingham Half and 10k too.
For just the running events alone there must have been over 1000 people lacing up their trainers to join her to fight cancer.
Gill Punt told the Standard: “I was delighted and honoured to receive the award from the High Sheriff.
“Sadly, there is probably not a family in the country that has not been touched by cancer, so I will continue with the fundraising endeavours until we reach the ultimate finish line … a world without cancer.
“I hope my story will help inspire others to find, and then embark on, innovative volunteering adventures to improve our communities. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me over the years”
Visit https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/gills-cruk-giving-page-1 to support Gill’s latest fundraiser.
