North Wales super gran completes 30 marathons in 30 days for charity

Great-grandmother Linda Jeavons has completed a challenge that many people would shy away from – that’s 30 marathons in just 30 days.

Throughout June determined Linda, from Penisarwaen in North-West Wales, put on her walking shoes to raise £2,115 for two charities, the Wales Air Ambulance and Blood Bikes Wales.

Every decade Linda, who is originally from Colwyn Bay, marks her birthday by completing a challenge.

Her previous birthday challenges have included running the London Marathon, learning to ride a motorbike and passing her test, entering the Snowdon Race and cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

Lockdown didn’t prevent 70-year-old Linda from walking this huge distance. Reflecting on the challenge, she said: “It was tough – I knew it was going to be, otherwise it wouldn’t have been a ‘challenge’, but possibly a little harder than I had thought.

“I think the hardest part was when I got to the halfway point – day 15 – you’d think that would be a good point to be at, but all I thought was, ‘I know how hard it was to do 15 days, and now I have to do that all over again’.”

Friends and family threw their support behind Linda and they encouraged her every step of the way. Several did parts of the walk with her, including her husband and daughter who took it in turns to start the marathon or finish the marathon every day with her.

Throughout the 30 days there were times when Linda woke up thinking ‘let’s get going’ and other times when, not surprisingly, she thought ‘not again’.

Linda placed a moneybox at the bottom of her driveway with a message explaining about her challenge and her kind-hearted neighbours donated £200.

The family are no strangers to going above and beyond for a challenge. In 2018, her daughter Steph Jeavons became the first Brit to circumnavigate the world on her Honda motorbike.

Her proud daughter, Steph, said: “Mum did amazingly well despite mother nature throwing everything at her, from stifling heat to lashing rain and wind.

“It’s not in her nature to give up, and I think she has more than proved that. I’m now looking forward to seeing what she has planned for her 80th. Well done Mum.”

Lynne Garlick, Wales Air Ambulance Fundraising Manager, said: “Completing a marathon is a huge challenge for the best of us. But doing 30 in 30 days is just extraordinary. Congratulations to Linda on completing this huge, and exhausting, challenge.

“Thank you so much for fundraising for two important charities and a huge thank you to everyone who supported her during the marathons and for donating money.”