BARCELONA – Mike Humphreys has embarked on an extraordinary challenge by running 30 marathons in 30 days across 30 countries. After completing a 42-kilometer (26.1 miles) marathon in Barcelona on Friday, he quickly showered and drove 200 kilometers to Andorra to run another marathon the following day.
Humphreys admits that his endeavor may seem “crazy” and has faced attempts from his family to dissuade him. They suggested he spread the marathons over six months or hire a support team, but he has chosen to tackle the challenge solo and within a tighter timeframe.
The 33-year-old Briton is using social media to document his journey while raising funds for research into motor neurone disease, a rare condition affecting the brain and spinal cord that currently has no cure. By the fifth day, after running in Cannes and Monaco, Humphreys had raised £7,790 ($10,187) on the online fundraising platform GoFundMe.
His motivation stems from personal connections to the disease; a friend, Craig Eskrett, was diagnosed with it, and another friend, Carl Giblin, passed away from it in 2013. Humphreys hopes to raise awareness and funding for treatments or a potential cure for the disease.
If successful, he believes increased awareness can lead to more funding and advancements in treatment options.