In 2001, Janette Murray-Wakelin was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was told that she only had six months to live or up to a year if she undergoes conventional chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Fast forward to 2013, Janette, together with her husband Alan, ran 366 marathons covering 15,782 kilometers across Australia running entirely on raw vegan food. And on April 8, Janette will be running the Paris International Marathon. It will be the 500th marathon she will run in one day since she started taking on the diagnosis as a challenge. In this interview, we get a glimpse into her awe-inspiring story and the life choices she made on the road to healing and recovery.
Q: You were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 and was told that you only had six months to live. Can you tell us more about it and your journey following a raw vegan lifestyle?
When I was diagnosed with highly aggressive carcinoma breast cancer and was ‘given’ six months to live, the tumor was 3cm and cancer had spread to the chest wall and the lymph nodes. It was recommended that I undergo conventional chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which may possibly extend my life a further 6 months. At 52 years, a mother of two and grandmother of one, I was not willing to accept this prognosis. My intuitive response to the recommended treatment was that it did not make sense to compromise the body’s system further. It seemed obvious to me that I should be helping the body to rejuvenate and rebuild, thereby reversing the problem. I knew that by making conscious lifestyle choices it would make a difference. So my journey with cancer led me down the Raw Vegan Path to health and happiness without fear. (Further details can be obtained from Janette’s Story on my website and through my book, ‘Raw Can Cure Cancer’)
Q: What was it like going raw vegan?
Although I had been vegetarian and vegan for most of my life, at the time of my cancer diagnosis I decided that if I was going to ‘give it 100%’, I would also eliminate all cooked food, thereby getting the maximum amount of nutrients from all foods I consumed, I couldn’t believe the difference in the way I felt within only one week of changing to 100% RAW food, the first thing I noticed was my clarity of mind was intensely heightened. I no longer had to think about decision making. Everything became very clear, there was no hesitation. I lost 15lb within the first month of eating 100% RAW food, which took me just below my recommended weight per height ratio. The following month my weight came back up and has not changed since I continue to follow a Raw Vegan conscious lifestyle.
Q: Tell us about the year you and your partner spent running marathons around Australia every day. What was the most challenging experience for you running with no days off?
We decided to Run around Australia (15,782km, 366 marathons each in 366 days) to inspire and motivate conscious lifestyle choices, to promote kindness and compassion for all living beings and to raise environmental awareness for a sustainable future, On January 1, 2014, as we ran our 366th marathon, we set a new World Record for the most consecutive marathons, as the oldest and only couple to run around Australia, fuelled entirely on raw fruit and vegetables and wearing ‘barefoot shoes’. The most challenging experience running with no days off was getting enough sleep! But the hardest part was not being able to see our children and grandchildren during the Run.
Q: How has running 366 marathons in one year changed your life?
It will never be the same again! After that, nothing is impossible!
Q: Running takes a lot of endurance. What are the foods you usually eat in a typical day?
Our diet consists of mainly fresh fruit with some vegetables especially green leafy veg. When in training and during the Run around Australia, we just eat more according to the amount of calories we’re using. For instance, we consumed 20-30 bananas daily while on the Run, whereas in training we consume 15 and when not in training 5-10. We eat the fruit that is in season and grow our own veg.
Q: Can you name some of the most veg-friendly places you have visited?
Finding restaurants that offer vegan options (particularly raw vegan) can be challenging but is becoming more popular worldwide. The places we have found good for vegan restaurants are Toronto Canada, Ubud Bali Indonesia, and Melbourne Australia.
Q: Is there a place that you find particularly challenging to visit as a vegan? Can you tell us what made it difficult for you?
Anywhere in the world you can get fresh fruit and veg, being vegan is never a problem, there’s always a market or green grocer that sells locally grown.
Q: Tell us about your website Raw Vegan Path. When and why did you create the site?
Raw Vegan Path was created in 2014 shortly after we finished our Run around Australia, with the idea of inspiring and motivating conscious lifestyle choices and providing information about following a Raw Vegan lifestyle, hence the name.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of making the switch to a raw vegan lifestyle?
Don’t spend too much time analyzing it, just do it and the multiple benefits will become obvious. Making a difference to your own health, the health of all living beings and the health of the planet makes switching to a Raw Vegan lifestyle is the best move you will ever make.
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Website: rawveganpath.com
