Steve Radjen (60) aims to raise £600,000 for Naomi House and Jacksplace by running 60 marathons in 60 days
MANY people when they reach 60 years old are looking forward to a more gentle pace of life.
But a longstanding fundraiser from Brockenhurst has instead sought inspiration from his age and given himself the challenge of setting a world record by completing 60 marathons in 60 days.
Digital marketer Steve Radjen hopes to raise £600,000 for children's charity Naomi House and Jacksplace and finish the most consecutive marathons by a man.
The first dozen runs of Steve's epic challenge will begin and end at his Brockenhurst home before he goes on a tour of other counties.
Last year, Steve was awarded the British Empire Medal for previous charity efforts which have racked up around £300,000, and is now preparing for the biggest fundraising challenge of his life.
He said: “A lot of people have questioned why I’d even attempt to do something so crazy.
"This is the simplest of questions to answer: I don’t run to add days to my life, I run to make the days of other lives better.
"I am fortunate to have two very healthy and active daughters, on my first visit to Naomi House and Jacksplace, it became clear very quickly there are many others that are not so fortunate.
"The hospice is so full of colour and smiling faces. I walked out the door and my life was changed. I knew I had to do whatever I could to help – the rest is history."
His schedule includes circular routes around the Isle of Wight and the Devil's Punchbowl in Surrey; Chichester to Shoreham; Salisbury to Brockenhurst; and the London Marathon in October.
The final run on 15th October will begin in the New Forest and take him to the doors of Naomi House and Jacksplace in Sutton Scotney.
Steve, who will continue to work full time while undertaking his challenge, said: "I think I'm as prepared for this as I can be.
"If I'm being honest it's daunting and I'm feeling some trepidation but I know from experience the first week will be the worst."
Steve's self-described "obsession" for long-distance charity running began in 2004 when, at the age of 42, he decided to end "20 years of inactivity" by competing in the London Marathon, raising money for Naomi House and Jacksplace.
Between 2005 and 2008 Steve ran marathons in London, Berlin, Amsterdam and Paris, raising £60,000 for charities.
In 2012 Steve competed in the infamous Marathon des Sables as part of his Fifty4Fifty challenge – raising £50,000 for charity, aged 50.
In 2018, as Naomi House and Jacksplace celebrated its 21st birthday, Steve completed 21 marathons in 21 days to raise a staggering £186,000 for the cause.
Steve is inviting any runners, cyclists and even horse riders to join him anywhere at any stage of his 60-day challenge, which begins on Wednesday 17th August.
To follow Steve's running schedule and donate to his world record fundraising attempt visit www.60in60at60.co.uk
