Rebecca running mountain-to-surf challenge for Dad
When Rebecca Eaton was finishing a cross country race at the age of 11 her dad stood in a paddock full of sheep cheering her on.
Six months on from his death nothing’s changed – he’s motivating the 27-year-old to finish her first marathon.
Eaton is running the Taranaki Mountain to Surf Marathon in memory of her father Craig, who died of mesothelioma – a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.
The lawyer is also raising awareness and funds for the Bernie Banton Foundation, which offers support to mesothelioma sufferers and their families.
‘‘I would crawl across the finishing line if I have to. I will be finishing,’’ Eaton said. ‘‘It doesn’t matter how hard it is, I’ll do it for Dad.’’
Craig, who was a builder often exposed to asbestos, died in September at the age of 52 after more than a year battling the cancer.
‘‘Growing up I always knew what asbestos was,’’ Eaton said.
‘‘You just don’t expect it to happen to the one you love.’’
Two months after her father died Eaton decided she would run her first marathon. She calls it a selfish decision.
‘‘Originally, I decided to do it to have something to focus on to channel my emotion into.’’
It wasn’t until she neared the end of one of the biggest runs she had ever done, her drive shifted.
‘‘It was really hard, it was those last couple of kilometres, and Dad was my motivation.
‘‘I said ‘I can do this for Dad’.’’
Eaton’s sister Olivia, who is a world beach sprint champion, said Craig’s memory was what drove her at the November World Surf Life Saving Championships in Adelaide too. She managed to hold her title and pulled in a medal haul as well.
As well as doing the marathon for her dad, Eaton hopes to help the foundation, which had supported her family so much.
The Bernie Banton Foundation is the only official form of support in New Zealand and Australia for mesothelioma sufferers and their families.
When the Eatons found out Craig had mesothelioma they got in touch with the foundation. It happened to be one of its coordinator’s 60th birthday but he sat on the phone for hours and talked the Eatons through the cancer.
The support continued after Craig’s death.
‘‘It doesn’t stop because Dad’s gone,’’ Eaton said.
Eaton’s running career peaked at school and her father’s encouragement to get back into running fell on deaf ears – until now.
‘‘It seemed fitting that in memory of my dad and to raise awareness for this horrific disease, that I attempt to run a marathon. ‘‘He’d be stoked.’’
- Eaton has a Givealittle page to raise funds for the foundation.
‘‘It seemed fitting that in memory of my dad and to raise awareness for this horrific disease, that I attempt to run a marathon. He’d be stoked.’’
Rebecca Eaton