Kayleigh decided to run the 42k race to raise funds after Mr Allenby had cancerous tumours removed from his intestine. This resulted in a stay at Bangkok Hospital Phuket totalling around B1 million, far exceeding his insurance coverage.
Kayleigh this morning (June 10) confirmed she had raised around B65,000 in donations and sponsorship, to go toward Richard’s hospital bills.
She was also stoked with her race time.
“I was fit, so I was prepared and ready for it. I’m very happy with the result,” she told The Phuket News. “I was aiming for under 4 hours 30 minutes, so I’m very pleased, especially since it was my first marathon.
“It was really hot. The first 30k was fine but then I hit a wall and it was tough. My legs just wanted to give in,” she said.
But some friends joined her along the way to give her support, and fellow teacher Jen Campbell ran the last kilometre with her.
“I don’t know what I would have done without them.”
Exhausted, Kayleigh went to bed last night at 7pm.
“I hadn’t slept the night before because I was so nervous, and I was up at 2.30am because the race started at 4.30am, so I wanted to make sure I was ready.”
Her parents were very proud of her efforts, as was HeadStart owner Miki Edouard, who was in tears at the finish. And Mr Allenby, of course, who she ran in the race for.
“Richard managed to get to the finish line [to see me], and it was really nice to see him. He was very chuffed, so it was a great day.”
But Kayleigh won’t be taking too much of a break from training – she plans to do another marathon in October when she moves home to South Africa. She’s hoping to get her time down under four hours in that race.