A former Eden Marine High School student and her team have raised over $3000 for the Leukaemia Foundation, as part of last weekend’s Australian Running Festival in Canberra.
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Sam Clark created ‘Team Marion’ in memory of her late grandmother, Marion Clark, who lost her battle with leukaemia earlier this year.
Sam and friend Le-Tisha Kable completed the 10km event, while her sister Emma, mother Toni and friend Jodie Fryers participated in the 5km distance, raising $3096.90 to rank as the fourth-highest fundraising team at the event.
With Sam busily preparing for university exams, Toni spoke to the Magnet on Monday, and said the mechanical engineering student wanted to give something back to the organisation that allowed the family to have one last Christmas with Marion.
“About 16 of us got together to spend Christmas with Marion at Leukaemia House in Canberra,” Toni said.
“It was a big thing for us, because when you don’t live in Canberra, it makes it hard.
“The fact that the Leukaemia Foundation made that possible was what prompted Sam to want to give something back.
“We’re all very proud of what she’s done and we’re planning to do it again next year.”
Toni said Marion was a huge source of inspiration for the family, having previously overcome three forms of cancer.
Marion, who established the Magnet’s long-running ‘Chit-Chat’ section in the early 1980s, was 74 when she died earlier this year.
“She had actually just been given the all-clear from bowel cancer in, and had headed off on a holiday,” Toni said.
“She went to a doctor up in Bundaberg and was told she had leukaemia, so she came back and spent the next nine months in Canberra.
“She overcame a lot and is a big source of inspiration to us all, especially her grandchildren.”
To donate to Team Marion, visit https://runningfestival2014.everydayhero.com/au/team-marionc
