Curtin is running in memory of her boyfriend Angus Ross, who died suddenly having suffered a heart attack in April last year following a game of football. He was aged just 30.

Six months earlier, Curtin had been working as associate to Federal Court judge, Justice Peter Hely, when he too died of a heart attack.

“It’s really important to me because Angus died suddenly, with no warning whatsoever and no significant family background of heart related problems. For this to have happened to someone so young, fit and seemingly healthy signalled to me that there’s still a lot more research required in the area of cardiovascular disease and associated disorders. The Heart Foundation plays a crucial role in funding that research.

“I’d like to raise awareness amongst young people of the need to be aware of the risks that are posed to your health by cardiovascular related problems and also emphasise that there is so much more work to be done to understand the human heart and the conditions and disorders that can affect people at any age,” she said.

Curtin has run six half-marathons previously, but this will be her first marathon.

“I thought it would be a great thing to do because Angus and I always used to run together and it’s a good way to keep fit. The marathon is a wonderful event and lots of people compete in it for charity,” she said.

Around 25 other Australians will join Curtin at the starting line, including Ellie Boyd, a trained lawyer and a learning and development consultant at Minter Ellison who is aiming to raise $10,000 for the same cause.

VIEW ALL

The ING New York City Marathon is one of the world’s great road races, taking runners through all five boroughs of New York. Last year the race attracted over 90,000 applicants, many of whom are world-class professional athletes. The winner pockets more than US$700,000 ($835,411) in prize money.

As part of the fundraising activities in the lead-up to the marathon, Curtin has arranged a number of events. Her main fundraising event is Feel the Beat — a night of canapés, fine wine and entertainment to be held at the Tilbury Hotel in Sydney’s Woolloomooloo on Thursday 28 June. Tickets can be purchased at www.feelthebeat.org.