When Glennis Wilson starts her 12km walk in the HBF Run for a Reason in Perth on Sunday, May 19, her thoughts will be with her late husband Lindsay.
“We were married for 43 years and he always encouraged me to walk,” Glennis said. “I feel he is sitting on my shoulder, encouraging me.”
Lindsay Wilson passed away 16 months ago from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive lung disease. He was just 69.
“Lindsay was on a couple of trial drugs at the Institute for Respiratory Health which, he believed, extended his life,” Glennis said. “He was told in 2017 that he had this terrible disease and had three to five years to live. He lived for five years and nine months.”
HBF Run for a Reason is Perth’s biggest annual fitness fundraising Challenge and has been bringing more than 30,000 people together annually since 2010.
For its 12th year, the event is aiming to raise more than $1.2 million for charities while celebrating togetherness in the heart of Perth.
“I saw the Respiratory Institute was putting in a team to help fund research so I thought I would like to join and give something back,” Glennis said.
“I did City to Surf in 2012 when my granddaughter was born at 24 weeks so I did that for miracle babies. Lucy is 12 now and in her first year at high school and I have a grandson Oscar 14.”
Glennis, who lives in Chidlow, belongs to the Perth Hills walking group, walking on Fridays. “I joined because I was going to do a walk in New Zealand with my sister but it was canned because of Covid.
“Instead, I went off and did the Cape to Cape walk. I like to try and keep going, I also walk with another group on Wednesdays.”
Glennis, who has two adult sons, says she believes walking 12km for HBF Run for a Reason is achievable.
“I’ve got comfortable walking shoes, cotton pants and a HBF Run for a Reason tee-shirt for the event.”
Outside her walking week, Glennis enjoys knitting and craft and enjoying time with her dog Maltese cross Charlie. “I’m right into creating mosaics now, I’ve done house numbers and welcome signs.”
HBF Run for a Reason will be held on Sunday, May 19. For more details go to www.hbfrun.com.au.
