AN animal lover with a dislike for running is to compete in her 22nd marathon in aid of a pet charity.
All of the marathons Cockfield resident Wendy Bellaris has competed in over the past 27 years have been for animal charities, including the RSPCA, SSPCA, the Donkey Sanctuary and the Moon Bears Charity.
Next month she aims to complete the Loch Ness Marathon to raise cash for the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).
The 77-year-old said: “I started running when I was 50 so I started late. I don’t like doing them [marathons] but when I am hurting, I think about the animals I am helping.”
So far she has completed 13 Loch Ness Marathons, two Great North Runs and nine London Marathons, with the virtual London Marathon being her most recent.
She completed it alongside her son, Todd, who will again join her for the Loch Ness next month alongside her other son, Austin.
Of the virtual London marathon she said: “You could do it anywhere and people from all over the world joined in.
“We found out from here to Middleton-in-Teesdale it was exactly 26.2 miles. You had 24 hours to do it. It took us six hours so we didn’t knock ourselves out.
“It was on a smartphone app so you couldn’t cheat and each mile it would cheer you on. When we reached the signpost [in Cockfield] there were fireworks on the phone, it was brilliant.”
The return to Scotland for the Loch Ness Marathon will be a sort of homecoming as Mrs Bellaris used to live at Freyers, which the route passes through.
She said: “I did the very first Loch Ness Marathon in 2002 and I was the third female over 55 to finish it.
“It is so picturesque – a lot of it is on the south side of Loch Ness.”
Mrs Bellaris will be gathering sponsorship around the village ahead of the marathon.
People can also support her by ringing her on 01388 710893 or visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Wendy-Bellaris.
