Useful contact numbers added to Members area...
A man who ran a marathon every day in 2024 for charity said he is overwhelmed by joy and gratitude but will never take on such a big challenge again. James Cooper, 37, began his challenge on 1 January and has since run more than 9,500 miles. The personal trainer completed the feat today and has so far raised more than £85,000 for the Samaritans. Mr Cooper, from East Grinstead in West Sussex in England, chose to raise money for the charity after struggling with his own mental health and losing his uncle to suicide at the end of 2017. Because 2024 was a leap year, the 37-year-old ran 26.2 miles 366 times.
On top of running at least 15,444 kilometers in a single year, the 55-year-old also raised some €60,000 in funds for breast cancer research. On the last day of 2024, Belgian ultra runner Hilde Dosogne finally stopped running, having achieved her goal of running a marathon every day for a year. Despite feeling weary, but not exhausted, Dosogne crossed the finish line as fellow runners celebrated her extraordinary feat. “I'm glad it's over,” she said, recalling a collision with a spectator during her final run. Along with running over 15,444 kilometers in a year, the 55-year-old raised €60,000 for breast cancer research. Next, she must submit GPS data, photos, videos and witness reports to the Guinness World Records organisation. If approved, she will be credited with the record in around three months. Dosogne would join Hugo Farias, who holds the male record of 366 days. In the female category, she would surpass the current record of 150 days set by Erchana Murray-Bartlett.
