A marathon effort in the bank by Letchworth’s Richard

Richard Kell, of Woolston Avenue, Letchworth GC, finished his 26th marathon in the last 12 months on Sunday and even had to overcome a last minute postponement to complete his 2010 challenge while raising money for armed forces charity Help for Heroes.

The 39-year-old, who ended up running his last 26.2 miles in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, after the Luton event he intended to do was called off, had never attempted a marathon until October last year but has made up for lost time by completing some gruelling challenges throughout the calendar year.

Richard started in January with a 45 mile ‘ultra marathon’, followed by four consecutive marathons in 24 hours.

He has continued to rack up the miles ever since, including a 38 mile course which took in five of London’s most famous sporting venues, a 30 mile commando challenge across Dartmoor carrying 40lbs of kit, and a marathon in Stevenage.

Richard’s efforts, which also comprise of a skydive and an abseil down one of London’s tallest buildings, have so far helped raise more than �15,000 for Help For Heroes, which supports service personnel wounded in current conflicts.

Speaking after the feat, Richard said: “Luton was called off on Friday so I was desperately trying to find somewhere to do my last marathon. There were only 34 runners so it was a little bit different to how Luton would’ve been but I finished 11th and was pleased with that.

“I’m certainly no athlete and had never done any running up until last year. It shows what anyone can achieve with a little determination.

“With more than 100 UK service personnel killed in action this year, and many many more suffering life changing injuries, any sacrifice I have made is put properly into context.

“But I am just glad I can do something, however modest, to support our heroes out in Afghanistan. And it doesn’t stop here – I have some big plans for 2011…!”

To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/MidasMarathon