“Everybody thought I was a bit crazy,” said the Elstree mother-of-four, who has to date raised £86,000 for Kisharon from the challenge. “I still have to pinch myself to believe it really happened.”
Dr Jacobson has a background in long distance running. At the age of 19, she took part in the 56-mile Comrades Marathon in her native South Africa. She has since run marathons in London, New York, Paris and Prague and celebrated her 40th birthday by running along the Great Wall of China. But a back problem curtailed her running in subsequent years.
She flew to Chile last month, from where she and 49 other participants travelled on to the Union Glacier in Antarctica.
“We were at the mercy of the environment, braving temperatures ranging from a ‘pleasant’ minus 15 to minus 35 degrees Celsius and running against 30 knot winds,” she said.
“There was a great danger of getting frostbite, so I made sure to cover up from head to toe. But at the same time, I had to be careful not to get too warm as excess sweat would turn to ice.
“It felt like running on a beach where sometimes the sand is hard and compacted and sometimes it’s very soft. This is hard on the legs and slows you down considerably.”
Dr Jacobson completed the run in six hours and 43 minutes.
Money raised is going towards a supported living project for young people. Among those the charity helps is Dr Jacobson’s 22-year-old daughter Talya, who has recently moved into supported living accommodation.
“For the first time in her life she’s absolutely thriving,” Dr Jacobson said. “She’s matured beyond words.
“Seeing her move into her adult life in this way has been the most rewarding experience ever. It’s the most enormous sense of relief. I’m passionate about being able to make sure other families get this opportunity, too.”
And her next challenge? “Nothing just yet. My body needs a rest. So do the wonderful people who support me.”
