WHILE Standing Tall in Hamilton (STiH) just reached $100,000 last Saturday – the 100th day of their 140-day fundraiser to raise $140,000 – one Hamilton woman is doing her bit towards the goal and will run her 140th lap of Lake Hamilton on Saturday August 27, at 4pm for $1000.

As one of Standing Tall’s volunteer mentors, Claire Hilsdon set herself the symbolic target of 140 laps of Lake Hamilton in 140 days to coincide with the STiH fundraiser that began on May 12.

But for various reasons Ms Hilsdon has not always been able to run a daily lap of the lake, so has had to make up for lost laps and recently ran a total of seven laps in one day.

Ms Hilsdon began running about five years ago and already has a couple of marathons under her belt.

“I absolutely love running,” she said.

“I ran the very first Parkrun, then I set myself a challenge to run 10k that year and then I ran the Melbourne 10km and have progressed from there, a couple of 10s, then halves.

“The first 10k I did was for myself for fitness after (having) children and to get out to get to know people.

“It wasn’t long after that the Hamilton Running Club started so I joined in with them and made so many new friends, so it was the connection, the challenge that it brings, and then I realised that it’s actually really good for me mentally,” she said.

“Even if I’m okay, somebody else might not be so I can run with them.

“There are so many aspects of it that I love.

“The running club is for everyone, my kids run, and we have runners that are 70 plus, so it’s for everyone.”

Ms Hilsdon is heavily involved in the local community and works as an integration aide at Hamilton Gray Street Primary School, volunteers as a run director at Hamilton Parkrun, is a kid and adult running coach at the Hamilton Running Club, a mum of three boys, and generously gives an hour a week to support a student in the Standing Tall in Hamilton program.

STiH program manager, Dee Barrera, said Ms Hilsdon’s fundraising effort was an inspiration and hoped many people would join her on Saturday afternoon or cheer her on from the sidelines.

“It’s a massive effort which she has scheduled in around her personal life, work life and other community volunteering commitments,” she said.

“She’s hoping to get lots of people from the community to join her on Saturday afternoon for a slow jog or walking her last lap.”

Ms Hilsdon is using the lap running to train for her next marathon at the Melbourne Marathon Festival in October where she will be participating as a pacer.

“I have to run to four-hour, ten-minute time, so anybody that wants to aim for that time will stick with me,” she said.

Ms Hilsdon’s fundraiser has gained momentum through social media.

“I have a mycause link that goes straight to the Standing Tall link,” she said.

“I’ve been tagged in some posts and that’s how it has been promoted.”

Ms Hilsdon will be walking the last lap to make it inclusive for anyone to join in without worrying they would need to keep up with her running pace.

“We’ve put it out there, I don’t know who is going to turn up, but I am hoping there will be a few,” she said.

Ms Hilsdon will be joined by her husband David and three sons, Ryan, 15, Luke, 12, and Spencer, 10, on Saturday afternoon for her 140th lap that will kick off at the Lakes Edge Adventure Playground on Rippon Road, Hamilton.