His name is Martin Parnell, and he has just spent the past 12 months completing 250 marathons. Yes, you read that right - in 365 days, he ran 250 marathons.
What an amazing achievement. And with the greatest respect to Martin, he's no spring chicken - he's a man in his 50's, who while semi-retired, put his life on hold for a whole year to help others. I have been carefully watching his endeavours through our local press - and he has been to visit both of my girl's schools - but I don't know how wide-spread his progress was circulated. By my reckoning, it should have been on national TV!
He was raising cash for "Right to Play" - Right To Play is an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world.
The aim was to raise $250,000 by the end of 2010, and I think he has so far reached about $226,000.
So for now, he just aims to just keep on running for a wee while longer 'till he reaches his magic goal.
I'm exhausted just thinking about it and writing this couple of paragraphs. I think I need a lie-down!
Martin - my hat is well and truly doffed in your direction.
Good luck with the last few $$$, and if anyone else is tempted to throw another $10 or $25 or $100 dollars in his direction, I suspect he and many, many children will be eternally grateful.
What a truly amazing Albertan you have there in Cochrane (when he isn't somewhere else running marathons)!
ReplyDeleteImagine him coming so close to his goal, for such a good cause, and deciding to keep on running. He could easily have said "Oh well, it's so close, it doesn't matter."
If you don't mind, I'd like to put a link to your blog, on my blog, and ask others to pass it on. What do you think?
-- K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
Oh yes, I've seen a couple of news items on the national news channels about the Marathon Man! Good for him -- I can't even imagine how difficult it must be to run all those marathons!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments ladies - an amazing feat, and no mistake. Kay, I would be delighted for you to add a link to your own blog - anything we can do to publicize Martin's achievements would be wonderful, and if it results in a couple more donations, well, brilliant!
ReplyDeleteThat is incredible! I've never run one marathon, and don't know if I even could. I'm impressed!
ReplyDeleteI have just read your post,sent to me from Kay.
ReplyDeleteWhat a truly remarkable man, I hope he gets his target. We could all take a leaf out of his book..
What an amazing man. I followed this link from Kay's blog and hope to pass it on. Thank YOU for making me here in South Africa, aware of this gentleman with a great heart! Blessings, Jo
ReplyDeleteI admire people like Martin who can put aside their lives to work wholeheartedly for a cause. I hope he achieves his goal and more.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your comments folks - and you all agree what a special fellow he is!
ReplyDeleteMartin's campaign is up to $248,000 today - just another $2,000 to go. If any of my readers donated, a BIG thank you!
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