A 24-year-old Brit has completed an extraordinary challenge after running 50 marathons in 50 US states in just 58 days – despite having no previous running experience.
Henry Moores, from Macclesfield, crossed the finish line of his final marathon in Hawaii on 17 June after covering 1,310 miles (2,096km) across America.
The challenge raised more than £30,000 for Be More Fab Children’s Cancer Charity, a cause Henry said was an easy choice after previously supporting the organisation.
READ MORE: England legend Gordon Banks’ World Cup winner’s medal goes up for sale at £300,000
- Advertisement -
His fundraising total passed the £30,000 mark on 19 June, as reported by What’s The Jam.
Henry’s ambitious journey began in New York on 17 April, with little more than a plane ticket, a hired car and a determination to see America while raising money for a good cause.
Speaking about the challenge, he admitted almost nothing had been planned in advance.
He said: “Nothing was planned at all. We booked a flight and hired a cheap car and started to explore the states.
“Many days we drove for five to eight hours and after that I would run a marathon and barely have any sleep.
- Advertisement -
“We did this for maybe three weeks straight, 4am starts, 10pm finishes, on zero training and running experience.”
Over the course of the challenge, Henry and his friend Tom drove approximately 17,000 miles across the United States while fitting in a marathon in every state.
The gruelling schedule often left little time for rest as they raced between locations.
- Advertisement -
Despite the physical demands, Henry said some of his favourite memories came from meeting people along the way.
“The best moments were meeting people and connecting all over the world and just seeing the world first hand, breaking all the boundaries made by the media,” he said.
Throughout the challenge, Henry documented his progress online, where thousands followed his journey.
Ahead of his final marathon, he posted an emotional video thanking supporters for helping him through what he described as some of the hardest days of his life.
He said: “I’ve honestly had some of the hardest times of my life for this trip and if it wasn’t for you guys back at home pushing me on every day, getting me up and giving me encouragement, I genuinely don’t think I’d still be doing it.
“As a young lad from Macclesfield, I just want to say anything in life is achievable if you get up and go for it and believe in yourself.”
After completing the 50th marathon, Henry celebrated the achievement on social media.
He told followers: “Thank you everyone so, so much for watching the journey.
“In the end we’ve managed to raise a whopping £28,000 for Be More Fab Children’s Cancer Charity.
“I want this to be a lesson to everyone back at home. Follow your dreams. Never give up.”
The fundraiser has continued to grow since he completed the challenge, eventually surpassing £30,000.
On his JustGiving page, Henry described the challenge as something he had wanted to do for years.
He wrote: “This is something I’ve wanted to do for so many years and especially in America. It has been somewhere I wanted to visit since I was a young boy.
“Be More Fab are a great charity but also people I’d now consider family. Choosing them once again was a no brainer.”
The latest feat follows another headline-grabbing endurance challenge by Henry.
Last year, he attracted widespread attention after walking more than 1,300 miles from Manchester to Ibiza to raise money for charity, a journey that saw him trek across multiple countries before reaching the famous Spanish island.
Reflecting on his latest accomplishment, Henry joked that he could now finally move beyond being known solely as “that guy who walked from Manchester to Ibiza”.
After nearly two months on the road, his immediate plans were far simpler.
“I’m going to enjoy my night tonight,” he said.
“Treat myself to a pizza on the beach and a massive bottle of freezing cold water.”
READ MORE: Original The Simpsons artwork to sell for £50,000
