Ultramarathoner plans 82-mile NYE run for cancer patients - Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com

This is the time of year when many people are making their New Year's Resolutions, but a Henry County woman has one big goal in mind.  She's raising thousands of dollars for cancer patients by running--- really, really far.

If you live in Locust Grove, you may have seen Jen Hanekamp on one of her daily runs-- but it's probably a little longer than yours.  You see, Jen competes in races that are double the length of a marathon—races known as ultramarathons.  

So, when five people close to her were diagnosed with cancer this year, she thought of a way to help while she was out on a run.  Now, she's running for them—132K for Henry County Cancer Services, to be exact.  That's more than 82 miles—all in one day.

Hanekamp, who is a mother of four, says she'll run for 24 hours—non-stop—with the help of a crew that will follow her.  

So how far is 82 miles, exactly?  If you've ever run the Peachtree Road Race, which is a 10K, this would be like running it 13 times in a row.

Jen says the farthest she's ever run is 50 miles, so this will be a great physical and emotional challenge for her.  She says she picked 132K because on average, 132 people in Georgia are diagnosed with cancer each day.  

Jen will run from Milledgeville to McDonough on New Year's Eve to complete her mission.  For more on her story and how you can come out and welcome her to McDonough, CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO HER WEBSITE.