A 75-year-old man has run 75 marathons in 75 days to raise money for a special needs school in Rotherham in north-east England.

Ray Matthews said it had been his dream to provide Newman Special School — a specialist school for children with disabilities — with new facilities, since seeing first-hand the “amazing work” all of the staff at the school provided.

But he said the task of raising at least 75,000 pounds ($133,165) for the new facilities warranted “an equally spectacular challenge”.

Completing the marathon challenge would also serve as a birthday present to himself, he said.

“I don’t know any other birthday present that will last for 75 days really,” he told the BBC.

He began the challenge on July 2 and finished on September 14, arriving at the school grounds to finish off his last run to the cheers of supporters.

“It’s been tough at times, but generally better than I had expected,” he said.

“I’ve had so many great people I’ve never met before who’ve given me fantastic comments and money as well. I’ve really enjoyed it.

“Other people have doubted me, but that’s fine. I’ve always had faith that it could be done — that’s why I set the challenge.

“Every marathon has been painful, but it has been a pain that has been able to be managed in general.”

Most of the routes were organised by running clubs in South Yorkshire, but he also finished two marathons in Rotherham’s twin town, St-Quentin, in France.

Mr Matthews has raised more than 13,100 pounds so far to “provide rubber playground areas and entertainment facilities”.

Source
ABC News