Baking her way to a marathon

Olivia Glazebrook is determined to bake the world a better place. Photo / Warren Buckland

A Havelock North woman is vowing to "bake the world a better place" selling homemade treats for charity as part of her efforts towards conquering the London Marathon in April.

Olivia Glazebrook, 22, attained a charity entry with the New Zealand Cancer Society for the 2016 London Marathon which she must raise $7000 minimum before she is given the go-ahead to run.

The keen runner returned home to the Bay after a stint in Europe backpacking, during which her aunt died of cancer, prompting Miss Glazebrook to send an application to the society.

New Zealand Cancer Society community fundraising co-ordinator Sue Beuvink said it was the first time the society had been selected by the marathon organisers as the exclusive New Zealand charity.

A team of 12 people from around the country as well as two Kiwi expats living in Tokyo were selected to take on the challenge.

"It's an incredibly difficult event to get a place in," she said. "We turned away probably 20 or 30 people."

Having recently completed a degree in food innovation and marketing at University of Otago, it was fitting for Miss Glazebrook to turn to sweet treats for her fundraising.

"I am sacrificing a huge amount of my time to undertake fundraising efforts - raffles at the Hastings farmers' market, hosting morning teas, bake stalls at the Hastings night market and have set up a small cake business (see:@kitchenoftreats on Instagram) with 100 per cent of all profits going straight to the New Zealand Cancer Society in [my] best attempt to "bake the world a better place".

This weekend she is set to pull off a macaroon tower for a friend's birthday, and will be selling Rush Munro icecream at Horse of the Year in March.

Already at the $5500 mark, Miss Glazebrook said she would "definitely" achieve the remaining $1500.

She started training since returning in December and had already ticked off 25km of the 42 that make a marathon.

Ms Beuvink was "quite confident" the 12 runners would raise the money. She had also coached them since October to ensure they stayed on track.

"You can't just wake up one day and run a marathon," and fundraising was much the same, she said.

"To raise money, and train and then fly across the world to run is a big thing.

"Olivia has done a fantastic job of fundraising so far."

Miss Glazebrook's family had planned a trip over with her to cheer from the sidelines. Ms Beuvink was also seizing the opportunity and had planned her annual holiday so she could support the 12 New Zealand runners.

- For more information about Miss Glazebrook's fundraising see: https://londonmarathon2016.everydayhero.com/nz/olivia-glazebrook.