A Melksham woman has set a Guinness World Record at the London Marathon for the fastest time by a female runner who has undergone a double mastectomy due to cancer.
Jen Ferris completed the 26.2-mile course in three hours, 24 minutes and 45 seconds on Sunday 26th April, while also raising nearly £10,000 for the charity Breast Cancer Now.
The previous record stood at four hours, 33 minutes and 11 seconds.
She said, “I just hope this highlights that other people, even in the depth of despair, when you can barely walk through treatment, if you do believe, then you can achieve. I just really hope it’s a message that comes out of this.
“I’ve already got the frame and the certificate and I just smile when I look at it and just say, ‘Oh, you never dreamt you’d be here.’”
Jen, who has now completed four marathons including London nine years ago, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a double mastectomy. Her mum has also been treated for breast cancer.
Following intensive treatment, she developed arthritis in her lower back and radiotherapy left part of her lungs affected, making running more challenging.
She said, “I had a bit of a tough time. My training went really well but the event was very warm and we haven’t been training in conditions like that. During the run, my quads became exceptionally heavy from about mile eight and wouldn’t go forwards in the normal way that they would. They weren’t firing; they kind of felt like they were twinging. I just wanted to get to the end; the time on the clock will come another day.”
Cheering her on was a group of friends she described as her “cheer squad”. “It was just amazing to see them out on the way round. I had some songs lined up that I had asked a few people to give me, songs that meant something between us. I couldn’t hear any of them. The crowds were so loud with their cheering. It was hugely well supported.”
Despite the record, Jen said she feels she has “unfinished business” with marathon running and is considering further challenges.
Jen has so far raised £9,757 with donations still coming in.
To support Jen’s campaign for Breast Cancer Now, a leading breast cancer charity in the UK, visit the fundraising page https://www.justgiving.com/page/jenny-ferris
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