Jacky Hunt-Broersma had a leg amputated because of cancer. Nevertheless, she set herself an ambitious goal: she wanted to run a marathon 102 days in a row.
What Jacky Hunt-Broersma creates is unimaginable for most people in the world: the native South African runs and runs and runs. She runs a full marathon every day. That alone should command respect from most people with two legs. Particularly challenging for Jacky Hunt-Broersma, because her leg had to be amputated.
When she was 26, her left leg was amputated. However, the 46-year-old was not deterred by this. She has a big goal in mind – a world record. Hunt-Broersma aims to become the first woman in the world to run 102 marathons in 102 consecutive days. On Monday she finished the prestigious Boston Marathon, number 92. So the finish is close at hand.
<x-embed class=”js-embed embed u-typo u-typo–article-text” consent=”pending” privacy-link=”https://www.stern.de/datenschutzbestimmungen-4541848.html” privacy-settings-link=”https://www.stern.de/sport/sportwelt/javascript:window._sp_.loadPrivacyManagerModal(237312)” srcdoc=’
‘ vendor-id=”5e717c8e69966540e4554f05″ vendor-name=”Instagram”>
The goal: 102 marathons in 102 days
In 2001, Hunt-Broersma was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that mostly affects bone. Her left leg had to be amputated below the knee. “The biggest problem for me was accepting that part of my body was gone,” she told the AP news agency. Running helped her deal with it. Five years ago she bought a carbon fiber prosthesis (cost around $10,000) – and ran.
“Running has really changed my life,” said Hunt-Broersma, who now lives in Arizona, USA. “It helped me accept myself as an amputee. It gave me a sense of freedom.” Hunt-Broersma kept testing her limits and finally set herself a more than ambitious goal: 100 marathons in 100 days. The world record at the time was 95. However, when a British woman recently completed 101 marathons in 101 days on a similarly ambitious mission, Hunt-Broersma quickly went one better: She wants to do 102.
Donations for other amputees
She started on January 17, the first two weeks were tough, she told the AP, but now Hunt-Broersma is in full flow. “You can make peace with the pain,” she explains. “My pain tolerance is pretty high right now. I’m taking one step at a time.” It takes her about five hours to run a marathon, most of which she does near her home or on the treadmill. She is supported by her husband and many fans who follow her path on social networks.
For Hunt-Broersma, her venture is not just about a record or fitness, but also about encouraging other people with a similar fate. She also collects donations so that other amputees can also afford the expensive prostheses. Her message: “You are stronger than you think – and you can do much more.”
Sources: //
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
