Health Hero: Margaret- Anne Hayes

69-year-old Margaret-Anne Hayes collects teapots, antique glass and rescued dogs. But for the past two years, she’s also been collecting money for cancer research—by running half marathons. “Before this, I couldn’t run to the corner!” she says. “My goal is to raise $70,000 by the time I turn 70 on 7 February, and I’m $25,000 on the way.” After the death of her son Aaron seven years ago, a grieving Hayes gained 25 kilos. “He was 40 years, three months and 27 days old when he died,” she says. “I just lost it. You never get over it.” To lose weight and fight depression, Hayes became involved with the cancer charity Can Too. Walking at first, then building up to run in a 9 km event, she ran her first half marathon (21 km) in two hours and 45 minutes. “All the hairs on my neck stood up as I came into the finish line,” she recalls. “Being cheered on by my Can Too family was the most wonderful thing.” Believing that every individual can make a difference, Hayes also sells chutneys and runs garage sales to help reach her $70,000 grail. “I visited the Garvan Institute recently and viewed a cancer cell through a microscope. I looked the enemy in the eye and thought, this is why I’m running—to stop this.”

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Margaret-Anne's tips for first-time runners

• Chris Hopton, guardian of the waves

• Cheryl Arentz, an uplifting woman

• Carol Cooke, diving right in

• Karen Fisher, making the time to help future generations