Gill's £1 Million for Cancer Research UK
We are honoured to mark an incredible milestone for Gill, who has raised an astonishing £1 MILLION for Cancer Research UK in memory of her father who died of bile duct cancer in 1999.
For over two decades, Gill Punt BEM, from Chigwell, has been dedicated to raising funds and awareness for cancer charities. A Guinness World Record holder and multiple marathon runner, Gill recently completed the prestigious Boston marathon, which helped tip her over the major milestone.
"My name is Gill Punt, I am a 51-year-old mother of three and am married to the headmaster of Chigwell School, where I work in the Philanthropy Department. I lost my father at a young age to cancer of the bile duct and this awful event began my fundraising adventures.
Tragically we lost one of our pupils, Grace, to brain cancer just five days before her 16th birthday. She fought this horrific disease courageously but in the end it was too much for her. This coupled with losing Eren the year before to spinal cancer and two colleagues Angela and Hilary to breast and pancreatic cancer made me decide to renew my fundraising endeavours. In 2019 I was honoured by the Queen with the British Empire Medal for services to charitable fundraising.
I have organised various events throughout the years, for example a pro-celebrity cricket match, coffee mornings and lots and lots of endurance events: everything from a mile with our Pre-Prep school to full marathons. I even gained a Guinness World Record at the London marathon – fastest marathon in a full-bodied costume…dressed as polar bear – a Cancer Research UK mascot! Also, for the last 8 years I have organised a team of nearly 100 runners of staff, parents and alumni to take on the Royal Parks half marathon."
Gill is not stopping here - her next fundraising adventure is to complete both the London and Chicago Marathons - Two World Marathon Majors in One Week! - in October.
If you'd like to support Gill in this epic challenge, please visit:
https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/double-marathon-majors-week
Congratulations again, Gill - here’s to the next million!
