AN intrepid fundraiser has set himself the gruelling challenge of completing 48 five kilometre runs in 48 hours.
Kevin Maughan is running in aid of the Maia Mouse Foundation, a cause he has already raised more than £4,000 for after the charity which was launched by a Barnard Castle family in memory of 11-month-old Maia Olivia Baum, who died in 2016 after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
He said his latest challenge may be a step too far.
He said: “It’s taken a bit of time for me to come up with a challenge to rival the last one I did and this is what I’ve decided on. I’m not sure if this is achievable, but I will do my best to find out.”
On Friday, September 15, at about 2pm Mr Maughan will run a five-kilometre route around Barnard Castle. Then he plans to do the same route on the hour, every hour for 48 hours, a total of 240 kilometres (150 miles).
Mr Maughan is no stranger to epic challenges. During lockdown he completed a 168-mile marathon in seven day by running laps of the cul-de-sac at his home.
Then last year he tested his endurance, battled sleep exhaustion and aching muscles to complete the equivalent of six-and-a-half marathons in just seven days.
Of his latest challenge, he said: “This is equal to 150 miles in two days. My previous challenge was 168 miles in a week. I will have to complete the 5km within the hour to be able to start the next one.
“Anyone and everyone is welcome to join me, the more the merrier, especially in the middle of the night.”
Mr Maughan will start each loop of his run from his home at Albert Close, heading up Victoria Road, along Green Lane, up Dale Road then along Churchill Road, before heading down Bede Road and onto Harmire Road, looping into Cleveland Road and down Woodlands Road before heading into Woodside, Cecil Road and Raby Avenue, down through Horsemarket and Market Place, out along Newgate and finally going to Birch Road and Queen Street to complete the 5km circuit.
Supporters can support the fundraising challenge by visiting https://tinyurl.com/ 4njhuxzz.
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
