Charlotte’s Harriette Thompson, Oldest Marathon Runner, Dies At 94

CHARLOTTE, NC– Harriette Thompson, the oldest woman to ever complete a marathon, has died Monday morning in Charlotte.

Thompson, a three-time cancer survivor rose to fame after video surfaced of her running in the 2015 San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon.

She didn’t begin running marathons until she was in her 70s, after a member of her church approached her about being one of her sponsors in the marathon to raise money to fight leukemia and lymphoma.

”I don’t think I’d be living today if I didn’t do this running,” the cancer survivor said. ”I’m helping them and they’re kind of helping me.”

Thompson ran in 16 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathons as well as many Charlotte races.