Hunter paramedic chosen to run New York Marathon

Excited: Emma Shawyer was last in New York 12 years ago, when her now-husband proposed. "I think they're expecting over 25,000 finishers, there's going to be music and celebrations and police officers and firefighters lining the streets, it'll be the biggest party." Picture: Jonathan Carroll

INTENSIVE care rescue paramedic Emma Shawyer is preparing to swap the frontline for the finish line when she runs the New York Marathon in November.

The Singleton-based paramedic and mum of two was one of more than 120 first responders who applied to Fortem Australia - a not for profit organisation that supports the mental fitness and wellbeing of first responder families - for the chance to represent the country at the largest marathon in the world.