Salisbury woman completes seven marathons on seven continents
Sally Orange has done it in just seven days as well!
Last updated 15th Feb 2023
A Salisbury woman's completed seven marathons, over seven days - across seven different continents.
Army veteran Sally Orange raised £10,000 for mental health charities - after struggling with depression and anxiety for years.
The 48-year old is the first female veteran and fifth British woman to finish the World Marathon Challenge.
She's been telling us about her experiences with mental health and her inspiration to take on the mammoth task:
"This is a global mental health crisis that we've got going on, so what better way than to take it all around the world. It felt like the physical form of my emotional and mental health journey. I was physically crying (through some of the runs). The final three marathons all took place within 36 hours of each other."
Sally ran one of the marathons, in the Antarctic, dressed as frozen peas!
She finished the challenge in the warmer climes of Miami in the US, on February 7th, and has been recovering ever since.
She's been telling us more about the mammoth journey:
"Antarctica was incredibly difficult because it was so windy. If we hadn't got out for Antarctica when we did, we'd have been stuck there for another three days. Then to go straight to the coastal Cape Town in scorching temperatures, and Dubai and Perth, but actually the hardest marathon for me was in Madrid."
Sally's taken on the challenge to raise awareness and get people talking openly about their mental health.
She's supported seven charities through her efforts - Armed Forces Para-Snowsports, The Duke of Edinbudgh's Award scheme, SSAFA, Marathon Kids UK, R;ipple Suicide Prevention, Walking with the Wounded and Scotty's Little Soldiers.
You can donate directly to her JustGiving page, and find out more about the challenge - and what comes next - on her website.