A COVENTRY schoolgirl completed her first ever long distance run at last week’s Coventry Half Marathon while raising funds for a worthy national cause.
Tessa Rusike exceeded her initial £150 target to raise a total of £210 for Smile Train – an international children’s charity that provides free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children in 85 developing countries.
The 17-year-old Walsgrave resident first heard about Smile Train from a friend.
From there she went to find out more about the charity and the work it does with thousands of youngsters across the globe.
She said: “After reading some of the case studies I knew that, I too wanted to do something to help.
“This was the first run I have taken part in, I’d only really done cross country before at school.
“I chose to do the half marathon because I thought it would help me raise more towards my fundraising, and also it is something that I have been wanting to do for a while.”
Finishing her run in three hours and 25 minutes, Tessa placed 1,008 out of all the women who took part in the run.
She added: “I found the run to be quite challenging and exhausting at times as I had not yet taken part in anything so tough.
“However, as I ran there was the constant reminder of what I was running for, which served as a great motivator for me to continue.
“When I crossed the finish line I was flooded with happiness and a sense of accomplishment from what I had achieved. It was great to finally finish and have my family and friends there supporting me made it all the more special.”
Visit www.justgiving.com/TessaRusike to donate to the Smile Train charity and help Tessa’s cause.
