Great-gran, 83, hits road for ‘impossible’ race challenge
AT 83 years old, Jean Harcourt seems like a typical great-gran.
She loves gardening, cooking and drinking tea.
But Jean is no ordinary great-gran. She’s about to take on an extraordinary challenge – running the London Marathon.
Jean has a touching personal reason for taking part in the endurance event.
Around 18 months ago, her brother Danny died suddenly at Piccadilly Station.
The retired businesswoman read an article about coping with the loss of a loved one, which suggested taking on a huge challenge as a means of distraction.
“I read this article about how to cope with grief,” Jean said.
“It said ‘do something impossible’. I thought ‘a marathon is almost impossible’.
“Concentrating on running helps with the grief. I’m doing it because I can.”
Jean, who ran a marathon around 14 years ago, said most people tell her she’s ‘mad’ when tells them she’s signed up.
But she’s out to prove the doubters wrong and her merry band of seven grandchildren and great grandchildren are her biggest cheerleaders.
Jean said: “I will do it. I think about how much faith my grandchildren have in me. My granddaughter Ellen is doing everything for me, she’s sorting out getting down to London, she’s raising money. They don’t think I’m mad.”
Ellen thinks her gran is a hero. The 30-year-old said: “I don’t doubt it at all. She’s a very stubborn woman.
“She’s got a black belt in karate, she makes me feel so inadequate. She’s the most liberal woman ever.
“She’s just so cool. She’s absolutely mint.”
Jean will be raising money for a family friend who has Parkinsons when she takes on the marathon.
To donate see virginmoney giving.com/fundraiser