Hallam student runs 27 marathons in 27 days to raise money for Malawi

A heroic student has run 27 marathons in 27 days in order to raise money for school children in Malawi.

Brendan Randall, who is studying to become a teacher at Sheffield Hallam University, took up running for a bet a couple of years ago, and in July of this year ran the 708 mile length of Malawi.

He set off on June 29th this year and, as he ran along the roadside, football clubs and local children ran alongside him, chanting and clapping, to spur him on. Talking of his experience, he said he was shocked at how many classrooms didn’t even have a roof in Malawi, and said that many of the children, of which 1 million are orphans, have to make a 5km trek to school every day.

Brendan has so far managed to raise over £35,000 for the “Friends of Mulanje Orphans” charity, and the money will be spent on building a new science block for their school. He ran half a marathon before breakfast, and made sure he had finished his marathon before 10.30am and before the heat of the day.

The Good Samaritan has also donated a wheelchair and various other items to a young boy which he met along the route who was unable to walk.

Brendan has already been awarded a  “Make Your World Bigger” award from Discovery TV, and has also broken the record for being the first man to run the full length of Malawi.

The student, who lives in Salford Quays, Manchester, also claims that he doesn’t even work out every day, nor does he have a super-healthy diet! Yet he still managed to run a whole marathon everyday by 10.30am to avoid the midday sun. According to him, it isn’t about what you think you are able to do, it’s about having a “passion” to drive you on.

His next challenge is running from John O’Groats to Lands End this month.