Bournemouth school caretaker Paul O’Boyle, 56, who last year ran 27 marathons in 26 days, is embarking on a new challenge.
A man, who was seriously injured, having been a victim of a drink driver, is to run an average of 42 miles a day over a five-day period. Bournemouth school caretaker Paul O’Boyle, 56, is no stranger to huge challenges, as last October he ran 27 marathons in 26 days. His latest feat will take him on the South West Coast Path from Old Harry Rocks in Studland on Sat 31 July to Plymouth Barbican on 4 August, a distance of 212 miles.
The father-of-one will be once again raising money for Macmillan Caring Locally, the charity which funds the Macmillan Unit in Christchurch, which provides palliative care and support for over 1,600 people and their families every year.
Paul took up running after surviving a horrific hit and run in July 2015. He sustained fractures to his skull, ribs and collarbone when he was knocked off his bike in Wallisdown Road, Poole and spent a month in hospital before undergoing lengthy rehabilitation and speech therapy.
Paul said: “Running was the way I got myself back to fitness and back on track and I totally fell in love with it. So, in October last year I decided I was going to see how far I could push myself by running 27 marathons in 26 days for the Mac Unit. It was tough beyond words. But with a huge amount of support, I managed it and I was thrilled to raise over £12,000. I’ve walked parts of the South West Coast Path many times and have often wondered if I could run it. Now I’m going to find out – and hopefully raise some more cash for the Mac Unit along the way.”
Paul has already managed to fit in some pretty gruelling ‘training’: He ran the one-day Jurassic 100km on 23 May – and went on to conquer the famous Three Peaks Challenge just two weeks later on 5 June.
