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Ilkley fundraiser completes unusual 24-hour marathon


Fundraiser Antony running along the Grove at 3am

Local fundraiser Antony Butcher recently completed an unusual marathon on the streets of Ilkley - running 1.1 miles every hour for 24 hours in a row.


He set off at 6pm on Wednesday 1st September, and then ran through the night and into the next day, finishing at 5pm on Wednesday 2nd September.

Antony said "the hardest part was the lack of sleep - I never had longer than an hour at home, but each time I tried to take a nap on the sofa my body was still pumping with adrenaline from the run I'd just completed. I don't think I got more than an hours sleep in total!"


Shortly after he completed the run he hit his initial fundraising target of £500, with all donations going to the MS Society, as his mum has Multiple Sclerosis. Antony's fundraising page remains open for anyone who would like to sponsor him.


Antony has previously raised over £20,000 for the MS Society and other charities through a range of fundraising challenges, including cycling Lands End to John o'Groats twice, running the London Marathon, and hosting quizzes during the first lockdown.


But this challenge is just the start for Antony, who is hoping that next year he'll be able to set off on a solo bike ride across the USA that was postponed in 2020. This ride will see him cycling for nearly three months and climbing twice the height of Mount Everest, whilst raising awareness of mental health at school and community centre visits along the route.


You can also follow his progress at "Antony Across America" on Facebook or Instagram. If you'd like to sponsor Antony you can do this at www.justgiving.com/24hour-marathon.

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