A FORMER Bradford district man has raised nearly £6,000 in memory of his mum by running 10 marathons in 10 days across various locations in Europe.
Harry Marshall, 26, who is from Oxenhope, but now lives in Whistler, Canada, tackled the marathon challenge to raise money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in memory of his mum, Alison, who died of heart complications in 2021.
Harry faced several challenges as he ran one marathon a day for 10 days from July 2 to July 11.
The destinations included Amsterdam, Dinant, Luxembourg City, Strasbourg, Walensee, Triesen, Bolzano, Achensee, Munich, and Lake Bled.
Harry's girlfriend, Morgan Rook, said: “I can't speak highly enough of Harry and his genuine character and positive outlook on life despite all he has been through.
“This has been a huge challenge for Harry, he has struggled a lot, he had days where he was very low due to pains and injuries.
“We had to see a physio on route in Italy as we had fears of a stress fracture.
“The physio actually provided Harry with a free session after discovering what he was doing for the BHF.
"He had also lost his mum to heart complications last year. This really touched us.
“Harry hasn't always been a runner. The death of his brother, Tom, in 2019 and his mother, Alison in 2021, turned him to running.
“Running clears his mind and is an excellent method of ensuring good mental health.
She added: “Harry completed the final marathon in just under five hours, in 33 degree heat and strong sun.
“Harry felt dizzy, and lightheaded along the way. This was the hottest and most difficult run yet.
“His friend, Matthew, joined him for this one which was an incredible thing to do to support him.
“The location that Harry finished, unbeknown to anyone there, was a perfect heart against the backdrop of beautiful Lake Bled.
“We thought this was meant to be as it represented the British Heart Foundation.
“There was never a doubt that Harry would finish this challenge. He is so determined and mentally strong.
“It was a truly amazing day and an emotional finish. We are all beyond proud of him and dread to think what he has next up his sleeve.”
Currently, Harry's fundraising efforts stand at £5,900.
To donate, visit justgiving.com/page/harry-marshall-the-heart-of-europe-challenge
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