A BROMSGROVE teacher who has run 26 marathons and more than 70 half-marathons in memory of her dad has completed an Arctic Circle marathon in temperatures of up to -24 degrees celsius.
PE teacher Gill Punt finished the PolarNight Marathon – Norway’s biggest winter race – in 4hrs 58mins 29secs while wearing a polar bear costume on January 4.
The remarkable challenge has raised more than £21,000 for Cancer Research UK so far and achieved the Guinness World Records title – ‘fastest ice marathon dressed as a mammal’.
Gill said: “It was brutal but sensational. We started in -14 degrees so the polar bear suit turned out to be quite sensible.
“It’s definitely the most difficult challenge I’ve ever done.
“We had to go and cross a mountain pass so the temperature was -23° at one point.”
Hundreds of thousands of pounds raised
The PolarNight Marathon is the latest in a string of marathon challenges and fundraisers Gill has been involved in that have so far helped to raise hundreds of thousands for Cancer Research UK.
Gill has been raising funds for the charity since her dad Mike died of bile duct cancer in 1999, aged just 56.
In 2016 she ran the London Marathon dressed as a polar bear, breaking the Guiness World Records title of ‘fastest marathon in a full-body animal costume (female)’ finishing in 4hrs 21mins 8secs.
Now she hopes her Arctic Circle challenge in the same costume will significantly boost her £2million fundraising target for Cancer Research UK.
Gill, who teaches at South Bromsgrove High School, said: “I still don’t enjoy running but I will keep going because there’s still such a long way to go until we get to the ultimate finishing line – a world without cancer.
“Dad’s cancer came out of the blue when he was still young.
“He just went bright yellow one weekend and went straight into hospital to have tests. A terminal diagnosis followed very quickly.
“We’ve tried to be very positive as a family since then and that’s why I do what I do – to try and get something good out of a bad situation.”
‘Nothing short of incredible’
Paula Young, spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK in Worcestershire, said: “What Gill has achieved is nothing short of incredible.
“We can’t thank her enough for all she’s done to raise funds and help us bring about a world where people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.
“Without people like Gill putting themselves out there we simply couldn’t continue to fund research that has already seen cancer survival in the UK double in the last 50 years.
“The charity’s discoveries and breakthroughs have saved countless lives, from the research that led to the development of the HPV vaccine to playing a role in around half of the world’s essential cancer drugs.”
Adam Millwood, managing editor of the Guinness World Records, said: “No marathon is easy, but to do it in sub-zero temperatures, in the dark and running on treacherous icy ground – let alone while wearing a polar bear costume – is testament to Gill’s incredible resilience and passion to support Cancer Research UK.
“Congratulations, Gill, on your epic frozen feat.”
To support Gill’s latest fundraising challenge visit: fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/gills-giving-page-1424 – Gill’s Giving Page
