A MAN has run 30 half marathons in 30 days to raise money for a charity close to his heart.
Vasek Gryga, from Bournemouth, has completed an incredible thirty marathons in thirty days in a bid to raise money for the Ellis Edwards Foundation, a charity that focuses on relieving the emotional and psychological distress experienced by a child who has lost a sibling or parent to cancer.
The Ellis Edwards Foundation team (Image: Vasek Gryga)
Taking place across November, Vasek completed half marathons all over BCP, as well as the Purbecks and even around Stonehenge.
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Vasek said: "Each run has been different, from early morning solo efforts to group runs with friends and supporters, and the energy and commitment around the challenge has been incredible. The final run was a real celebration, a strong determined finish with amazing support from the local community.
"The awareness it has brought to EEF has been huge and the donations coming in throughout the month have made a real difference for the families the charity supports."
The Ellis Edwards Foundation was created by the parents of Ellis Edwards, a boy who passed away after he was diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma.
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Vasek added that he's known Ellis' parents, Eddie and Carly, for a while and that he wanted to help to raise money through running.
He said: "Losing Ellis had a massive impact on them and their whole family and creating a foundation in his name was such a powerful and meaningful way to honour him.
"I knew I wanted to help in some way and running felt like the right thing to do."
Vasek added: "Doing it in November was intentional too. It's probably the toughest month for something like this. With the short days, rain, wind and cold- but that challenge felt appropriate.
"If we're asking people to stand behind a charity born out of something so painful, the effort should reflect that.
"Also, with Christmas approaching, its sadly the first without their child and sibling for many families EEF supports."
Vasek aimed to make the runs memorable. For example, on the sixth day, he ran 14 laps around the Sandbanks Peninsula in a full suit.
Other highlights were running 45 laps around Bournemouth Pier on day three, running around Stonehenge on day 20, joining Bournemouth Park Run on day 8 and running between B&Q and Sainsbury's at Castlepoint 'too many times' on day 12.
On the first, fifteenth and thirtieth day, Vasek was joined by the Ellis Edwards Foundation team and friends.