Kanuga heads to China to support childhood cancer fight
Kerri Kanuga and Hannah Meeson
(CNS Local Life): Ultra-long-distance runner Kerri Kanuga is again hitting the road for the St Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research, specifically on behalf of Hannah’s Heroes. She will be aiming to complete her sixth ultra marathon, covering more than 100 miles, at a race set for 18-19 November in China.
Hannah’s Heroes was established in 2013 as a St Baldrick’s hero fund to raise awareness of and money for childhood cancer research and to honour Hannah and other young survivors of this disease in Cayman.
Running in these gruelling races is definitely a labour of love for Kanuga, she explained. “I continue to raise money and awareness for St Baldrick’s because I have seen miracles happen. Hannah is an example of this,” she said. “No matter how extreme what I do may seem I always have the opportunity to stop.
“These kids are not given that luxury. My inspiration is these little heroes fighting this battle and my goal is to help fund research that helps everyone fighting this terrible disease.”
The 104-mile Mt Gaoligong Ultra race, a mountain trail which follows part of the famous Silk Road in northern China, is an especially difficult challenge for Kanuga, who trains in the flat topography of Cayman.
“I will have a cumulative elevation gain of 24,000 ft with a corresponding loss of more than 24,000 ft,” she explained. “This is nothing compared to the cumulative elevation gain of over 50,000 ft that I experienced in my 160-mile Brazil race, but it will be on mostly a single mountain track and the lowest elevation I will experience will be 4,131 ft.”
Though she was invited to participate “a while back”, Kanuga said it was only in October that she made the decision to go. “I am in good shape, but will need to train hard the next few weeks to get into 100-mile shape,” she added.
Her ultimate goal is to qualify again for Badwater, known as “the world’s toughest race”, set for July 2017. Kanuga finished sixth among women in the 2015 event.
To donate online, go to Kanuga’s St Baldrick’s page. For information on how to donate directly into a dedicated bank account, email Kerri Kanuga
