Running Pink: Deborah De Williams' Inspiring Story

by Megan Norris

One woman, one dog and an 18,000 kilometre run for a cure.
A diagnosis of breast cancer and two broken feet were not enough to stop
Deborah De Williams running 18,026 kilometres around Australia for breast cancer research. The inspirational 2011 Tasmanian Australian of the Year shares her inspirational story of triumph and hope. She tells the astonishing stories of the many courageous women she met along the road who turned out in their pink hoards to applaud her as she continued to run for a cure for a disease that strikes 1.3 million women around the world every year. Running Pink is not just Deborah’s story of hope – this is the story of the thousands of women who gave a pink crusader the strength to achieve her dreams.

413 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

Megan Norris is a UK-born journalist experienced in the criminal justice system. Her career in journalism began in 1976 as a reporter in the UK covering courts, police rounds and general news. Later specialising in court coverage, she wrote about the impact of crime on victims and their families. She has covered stories including the aftermath of the Port Arthur massacre and some of Australia's most high-profile serial killers and stalkers.

She lives in Melbourne, Victoria, with her husband Stephen and their two sons Peter and Alex.

Reviews

[Walter Van Praag · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely book to read, very inspiring. Running Pink details, in great details I should add, how Deborah De Williams walked around Australia for the Kids Helpline and how she ran around for Running Pink her organisation to support Breast Cancer. The walks and runs were all plagued with tricky situations, all of which she managed to overcome with her dedicated mum, husband and father. Cyclones and broken bones, floods and deaths did not stop Deborah and her team and thanks to her perseverance and angels along the way she broke records left right and centre, won medals and even got to meet the Queen! This year, 2015, she even won an Order of Australia for her magnificent effort and service to the community through contributions to a range of cancer support organisations, and to ultra marathon running. IF you've come across her in the media or have an interest in walking or running or adventure in general this will be an inspiring book to read! I'd love to run into her one day and shake her hand!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful inspirational read. As a fellow survivor I admire Deborah's determination, courage and strength to keep going no matter what. So heartwarming to read also of the many people who inspired her and ran with her along the way.

[Heidi Swallow · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring true story of a phenomenal Aussie woman who attempted to walk/run around Australia on three occasions to raise funds for children and breast cancer charities having survived and beating breast cancer herself.

This book will leave you resonating with sadness and inspiration with Deborah's gruelling and amazing accomplishments on a shoe string budget and be driven by one women's story and the simple belief to achieve a ultra marathon running dream.

Deborah meets many celebrities on her runs including Olympic champions, Julia Gillard (current PM of Australia at the time the book was written) as well as Queen Elizabeth II and Steve Irwin (Dec). Quotable quote from her meeting with Steve, "it doesn't matter if people think your dream is crazy, you should do it anyway". If this is the only thing you get out of this book then it is well worth a read- chase your dreams!!!

Spoiler Alert
The set back of two broken feet did not deter one determined Aussie legend, who completed the journey around Australia twice by foot. The first attempt was foiled by two broken feet, the second time she walked around Australia and then on her third attempt but second world record running attempt to run around Australia, Deborah ran around Australia, setting a new ultra marathon record for the longest continuous run by a female, 18026.4kms in 408 days!

Worth a read for the inspiring runner or simply to be inspired.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Vicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is about Deborah De Williams’ inspiring run around Australia (18,000 km) with her dog Maggie.She has seen the sights of this country at a slightly different pace than most, and all in the name of raising awareness and funds for breast cancer with a world record to boot.

De Williams is a breast cancer survivor herself and in 2011, was announced the Tasmanian Australia of the Year. In this book we travel with her pink crew around and through the heart of Australia – the cities, outback and small country towns. It is a reminder of how many lives are touched by the disease that strikes 1.3 million women globally each year. She meets a lot of interesting and everyday folk along the way, each with their own story to tell. For me, this was the highlight of the book which at times became a bit bogged down in mundane details. However, one can’t help but applaud this courageous woman’s determination to make a difference.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly I only picked this book up because it had someone running with a border collie on the front.
I am so glad that I picked this book up. I LOVE it. Enjoyed every minute of it.
I can't say if I'm more inspired by Deb and not only her desire to run around Australia, but the fact that she didn't give up on it, having to stop and restart from the very beginning, or if I'm more in love with her dog Maggie, who is so adorable, so much so that I would read out bits of the book about her to mum, because it was so cute.
Worth a read

[Janna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational totally... what a strong and amazing women. How I would love to just travel around Australia but perhaps not by foot, either walking or running. Raising awareness and fundraising for breast cancer, Deborah's story made me laugh, feel the pain and cry the tears as I enjoyed her journey.

[Sherry Mackay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a brave and enterprising woman with huge determination. To beat records, to make money for charity and to fulfill her own dreams. The prose is a bit over the top at the times, a bit purple, a bit too over emotional but it tells a brave story.

[Gaylene Mclean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly inspiring story. Had me in tears on more than one occasion. She did an amazing job. I have passed this book on for others to read.
Loved it

[Carling · Rating 4 out of 5]

She's an amazing story and the book was well written.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing story had me wanting to run around australia

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspiring as a fellow runner. The writer of Deborah's story has a very basic writing style that annoyed me at times but I overcame this by focusing on the story rather than the writing.

[Pauline]

very inspiring story