Yvonne Haswell - Tauranga Half for Heart racer

On Easter Sunday Tauranga’s Yvonne Haswell reached a personal milestone and raised money for charity when she ran in the Tauranga Half for Heart Marathon.

The Half for Heart was the 30-year-old’s first half marathon as a runner, after walking a half marathon last year. Yvonne set her sights on running the 21 kilometre course in under two hours and was delighted to achieve her goal.

In addition to the physical challenge, Yvonne also raised funds for The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand as a sponsored Heart Racer.

“For me it was a logical move,” says Yvonne.

“I was doing the run anyway; so I thought, ‘Why not raise money for a really good cause at the same time?’ I know many people affected by heart disease, including members of my extended family, so it made sense to do what I could to help. It’s something that has touched the lives of so many people.”

Yvonne’s training went well, slotted into a hectic schedule of work and family life that often saw her pounding the pavement in the early hours of the morning. Early starts notwithstanding, Yvonne is feeling the benefits of regular exercise.

“I’ve really found a difference in my fitness levels since beginning training. I have a lot more energy these days, and I feel a lot better in myself,” she says.

Yvonne encourages everyone participating to become a Heart Racer by registering online at www.heartracer.org.nz.

“It’s as simple as selecting the event you are taking part in, providing a few details and away you go,” says Yvonne.

“I emailed it to everyone in my address book with a note to my family and friends that I was doing my first half marathon and asked them to sponsor me.”

The response has been amazing – in just three days Yvonne’s family and friends had donated $150 to the Heart Foundation. But she doesn’t believe there is a magic formula.

“I think everyone has some association with heart health these days in some way, so they want to help. It’s just a really good cause,” she says.

Yvonne now plans on running her first marathon at Rotorua next year.

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