350-mile running challenge for Warwick charity was 'phenomenal', says 21-year-old Redditch man
Samuel Attwell ran from the very top to the bottom of Ireland in 10 days to fundraise for Molly Ollys which supports children with life-threatening illnesses
A Worcestershire man who has completed a mammoth running challenge across the entire length of Ireland in aid of a Warwickshire children's charity has said it meant so much to him to be able to get it done.
21-year-old Samuel Attwell from Redditch went from the country's most northern part in Malin Head and finished at the southernmost bit Mizen Head, covering around 350 miles in the process.
He set off on the 18 May before running for 10 consecutive days to cross the finish the line on the 27 May and was doing it to fundraise for Warwick-based Molly Ollys, who he is an ambassador for, which supports children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.
In total he's raised over £50,000 so far and previously said his death of his grandmother to cancer and his best friend who passed away at 18-years-old was his motivation behind wanting to take it on.
"It was tougher than I thought it was going to be," he said.
"The weather played ball for the first day and then went downhill from there on so it was a really tough challenge.
"Day two was probably the hardest, I genuinely felt like giving up on day two, it was just unknown territory for me and I'm so glad I kept going because if it didn't, I wouldn't have raised the amount I've raised and wouldn't have got the message out about the charity.
"The challenge itself was just phenomenal and I wouldn't have changed it for the world."
Molly Ollys was set-up by Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw in 2011 following the death of their eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare kidney cancer.
Following the completion of the challenge, Rachel has praised and thanked Samuel for his efforts, with the funds he has raised able to help grant up to 100 wishes for seriously ill children as well as provide vital comfort and support to families.