A DAD-of-two completed a gruelling charity running challenge to rapturous applause in his home town at the weekend.
Kevin Maughan ran four miles, every four hours for seven consecutive days – an incredible total of 168 miles – and was joined by an army of supporters for his final three laps of Barnard Castle on Saturday.
He said: “I couldn’t believe it. The town was absolutely brilliant, the support has been incredible throughout but Saturday was something else.
“There were little groups of people who knew me during the first lap and people trying to work out what was going on, that got bigger on the second and by the third lap it was almost full of people, it felt like the whole town was there for us.”
The 34-year-old is an experienced long distance runner and last year completed a lockdown cul-de-sac marathon for the Maia Mouse Foundation.
Gemma and Joe Baum, originally from Barnard Castle, established the Foundation in memory of their 11-month-old daughter Maia Olivia who died in 2016.
It raises money to redistribute as £250 grants for children with life-limiting conditions to enjoy special times with loved ones.
Mr Maughan, an artwork technician with sign-maker William Smith, said: "I was trying to come up with a bit of a daft challenge.
"I'd seen a four miles, every four hours for 48 hours one but that didn't seem difficult enough. Then I came across a couple of guys in Liverpool who did this, contacted one who said he loved it and convinced me it was a good idea.
"I didn't really think it through much, but a month later I was doing it.
"It's been tough at times, the lack of sleep and my knee started playing up towards the end.
"Getting up for the 1am and 5am runs weren't easy but apart from a couple of those early runs I've had at least two people running with me every time. The support was fantastic."
Mr Maughan's wife Jo ran the final run, son Tommy, five, did the final lap and 18-month-old daughter Libby was at the finish line at Barnard Castle Cricket Club with friends and family.
He set out to raise more than the £2,000 he made for the charity last time, and so far he has raised about £7,700 with a JustGiving online sponsorship page still open.
He said: "Its a brilliant charity and if they called me now to ask me to do something for them, I would."
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