Book of the month: Running Pink
Running Pink
The Deborah De Williams StoryAuthor: Megan NorrisISBN13: 9781743006894 Imprint: FIVE MILE PRESS Binding: pbk Book of the month for: April, 2012 |
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Publisher's Synopsis
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 literally ran herself into Australia’s hearts after being forced to abandon her dream to become the first woman to run continuously around the country in just 365 days. Told she would never run again, after running the last 825 kilometres of her run on two broken feet, Deborah went on to defy incredible odds – finding her inspiration from a dying young breast cancer battler who urged the runner to resume her dream and give her the hope that she might beat the disease. Now, Deborah, who beat breast cancer herself at 36, shares her inspirational story of triumph and hope that will make you laugh and make you cry.
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.
Author Bio
Megan Norris is a journalist with more than 30 years experience. She began her career on a large provincial evening newspaper in the UK where she went on to specialise in crime reporting.
After emigrating to Australia with her husband and two sons in 1990, Megan established a court reporting agency, supplying major news stories and features to national print and TV outlets. Now writing for women’s magazines, Megan continues to have a special interest in women and children who are victims of violent crime. She is a former winner of the EVA (Eliminating Violence Against Women) awards and is the co-author of the bestselling book Perfect Victim, the true story of the murder of Melbourne teenager Rachel Barber, a case she covered extensively.
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Megan Norris – biography.
Megan Norris is a UK trained journalist with more than 30 years experience. Megan began her career in general news on a large provincial evening newspapers where she went to specialise in crime reporting covering Crown Courts and several high profile international murder cases.
After emigrating to Australia with her husband and two sons in 1990, Megan established a court reporting agency, supply major news stories and features to national print and TV outlets. Now writing for women’s magazines, Megan continues to specialise in crime features, covering some of the most highly publicised international cases including the Port Arthur shootings, the stories of survivors from the Bali Bombings, Melbourne’s notorious Body in the Boot murder case and the Underworld wars.
Last year she was the only Australian journalist to cover the exclusive account of the death of Australia’s most notorious gangland killer, Carl Williams from an interview with his former partner, Roberta Williams.
Megan continues to cover some of the most bizarre stalking cases, abductions, domestic violence and rape cases for the women’s magazine market where she continues to show a special interest in women and children who are victims of violent crime.
She is a former winner of the EVA (Eliminating Violence Against Women) awards and the co author of the best -selling book, Perfect Victim, which is the true life murder story of Melbourne teenager, Rachel Barber – a case she covered extensively.
Discussion Notes
1. Running Pink could be described as a quest – what do you see as Deborah’s quest? What do you think she was trying to achieve?
2. There are a lot of themes running through this book – persistence, philanthropy and long-distance running are just some of them. What aspect of the story appealed to you most?
3. Deborah’s childhood was dominated by a bullying grandfather. What part do you think he might have played in developing Deborah’s character?
4. What part did Deborah’s mother Karin play in Deborah’s achievements? Do you think Deborah would still have achieved what she did without her close-knit family?
5. A lot of people enjoy the travelogue part of Running Pink – the descriptions of the different parts of this huge country as she runs around it, and the scenes of climatic turmoil that Deborah has to run through. Was this a part of the book that appealed to you? If so, describe why.
6. Deborah makes a lot of friends with fellow breast cancer victims as she travels around, both in person and via email. How important are these relationships to Deborah?
7. There are some colourful and funny events, including the Christmas Dinner experience at the Railway Hotel in Norseman on the Nullarbor. What’s your favourite funny episode?