The RAF firefighter will run two marathons in 48 hours in memory of a friend he lost
A TREFOREST football club player will complete the 4x4x48 challenge to raise money for Mind UK.
Royal Air Force firefighter Michael Ryan, 36, will be required to run four miles, every four hours over a 48-hour period, totalling 48 miles, just shy of two marathons.
“I think this challenge is going to push me to a very dark place physically and mentally but that doesn’t compare to the daily battles some people face,” said Mr Ryan.
He was originally inspired to complete the challenge after reading a book by David Goggins, an American endurance athlete, and founder of the annual challenge.
Participants from all over the world will begin the challenge on March 5 and finish on March 7.
The loss of a friend, who was also a colleague and teammate, played a part in influencing his choice of charity.
“He would probably ask why I would want to do something so silly like run 48 miles, but I am sure he would be supporting me the whole way.”
By promoting Mind, Mr Ryan hopes he can help to encourage people to talk about mental health, especially within the military.
“Being in the military many people are in the same situation and mental health problems are massively on the rise. If more people are willing to seek help then it is no longer a taboo subject,” he added.
Mind has dubbed the pandemic a “mental health emergency” as people’s mental health is deteriorating in lockdown and more people are in need of the services.
“The need for help and support is at an all-time high and charities have lost a lot of money due to the pandemic, so any money I raise will hopefully go towards helping someone who needs it,” said Mr Ryan.
Players from Treforest FC and Cilfynydd RFC have volunteered to each run a leg with Mr Ryan however, he has had no volunteers for the 2am or 6am runs.
A furry companion will also be joining in for a couple of miles, Mr Ryan’s dog Narla, but she will not complete the entire challenge.
“She’s too fast for me and I wouldn’t want to put her through that distance,” he added.
Mr Ryan has not set himself a target for the amount of money he wants to raise but, secretly, he would be very happy if the figure exceeded £500.
At the time of publication, Mr Ryan’s donations stood at £190.
