Bringing up two children single-handedly after the death of her husband left Sue Powney very little time to focus on fitness. But when her god-daughter passed away, she decided to fundraise in her memory – a decision that led Sue all the way to a marathon…

WORDS: LISA JA CKSON

INSPIRATION

Sue at the start (below) and celebrating after (above) the Greater Manchester Marathon

My daughter Sarah was just eight and my son Michael six when my husband Roy died very unexpectedly from heart failure, in February 2000,” says Sue Powney, 60, from Petersfield. “Losing my husband when I was just 41 meant I had to bring up two young children on my own. My top priority was to ensure they had the best upbringing I could give them, so I didn’t have much opportunity to stay fit. I was working as a learning support assistant at a local primary school. I wanted to become a teacher though, so I continued with my university studies and achieved a first-class honours degree, a PGCE with ‘outstanding’ and a master’s degree with distinction. But the truth is, I hid behind my studies: when the children went to bed I missed my husband so much it hurt, so I channelled all my energy into studying. It was tough juggling studying with working and childcare, but I succeeded and now teach year one at Petersfield Infant School. My own children are now 24 and 26 – they’ve both been to university and are amazing young people of whom I’m very proud.