Two Armagh friends are currently well on their way to running a mammoth 465kms during June to raise money for Cancer Research.
Tyler McLaughlin, from Abbey Park, and Tre Andrews, from St Patrick’s Park, began their challenge at the start of the month with a single kilometre!
Now many might think that’s no big deal. But when you add another kilometre on the second day and one more for each and every day thereafter, it certainly will put their legs to the test.
Factor in the fact that both boys work full-time – Tyler as an electrician and Tre, a graphic designer – and they are trying to ‘do the distance’ every night and one soon realises what a remarkable undertaking this really is.
By the end of June – on a day which will see them run 30 kilometres towards their accumulative total – they hope to have raised as much money as possible for a very worthwhile cause.
Tyler’s mum Nadine said the challenge was for a cause very close to their hearts.
“Tyler’s Nana passed away in April 2023,” she told Armagh I. “She had a rare form of cancer and he always said he wanted to do something for Cancer Research so they could do more research into this type of cancer.
“This challenge is his way of honouring her memory while raising funds to support life-saving research.”
Neither boy, said Nadine, would really be in to running and there had been no training in advance.
But such is their commitment they have decided to just go for it and try and make a difference.
“I think they’ve maybe taken a bit of inspiration from the FTD Brothers, to be quite honest, and they wanted to challenge themselves,” said Nadine.
“This was just a challenge that was taken up and they decided that this is what they were going to do. They’ve literally just gone out every night and just added the kilometres. They’re feeling it now.
“A lot of it’s done around the Mall, just to make it easy for them to get the kilometres in. Every night they’ll maybe start off at the Mall. They’ll maybe do about eight kilometres and then head off out the Portadown Road and try and build up their kilometres as much as possible.”
By the time June wraps up, each of the friends will have run a staggering 465 kilometres.
And there are no rest days, no ‘passes’ for bad weather, just tired legs, a lot of blisters and an escalating daily distance that will push them to their absolute limits.
The FTD Brothers, Cian and Jordan Adams, ran a marathon a day every day in each of the 32 counties in Ireland, north and south, recently to raise money for, and awareness of, dementia.
Tomorrow (Saturday), Tyler and Tre will run 20 kilometres – almost equivalent to a half marathon – and up that each day until the end of the month.
That’s an incredible challenge for two boys for whom running was never high on the priority list.
As Nadine said: “This is something new for them. I feel like they’re both enjoying it. Tyler keeps saying he’s enjoying it, but he’s in pain at the minute.
“It’s a wee bit gruelling for them, especially that they work full-time, and then they’re coming home after a long day’s work and having to go out. Like tonight, it will be 19 kilometres. It is tough but they’re committed.
“All their friends are trying to encourage them. Myself and my husband, we’re parking up at the Mall every night with the water and making sure that they’re okay. We’re all just trying to encourage them to keep going and keep their spirits up, especially now when you’re into the big miles and it’s getting tougher.
“The physical and mental commitment required has been immense. Taking on increasingly long distances every day, while balancing full-time employment, has pushed both boys far beyond their comfort zones.
“Despite the fatigue and challenges, they have remained dedicated to completing every run and raising as much money as possible for a cause that means so much to them.”
Tyler and Tre have set themselves a goal of raising at least £1,000 from their nightly endeavours.
They are now almost two thirds of the way through and a little bit of support and backing will go a long way in keeping them on track!
“I hope everyone can get behind them and maybe give them a wee bit of encouragement,” added Nadine. “They’re not big boys on social media, but they’re trying to share what they’re doing and just get the funds in.
“It would mean a lot to them just to have a wee bit of encouragement and maybe get people to donate and help them reach their target.”
If you would like to support Tyler and Tre’s running challenge for Cancer Research, you can do so here.
