98fm’s Brian Maher is running non-stop for 24 hours in Dublin's Phoenix Park to raise money for Special Olympics Ireland.
The Big Ride Home presenter is taking on the challenge in treacherous conditions to kick start Special Olympics Ireland’s national fundraising day.
Speaking to OTBAM on Thursday, Maher said he hopes to hit a significant milestone in donations.
“If I raise around €24,000, over the course of the last four previous challenges I’ve done for Special Olympics, that will raise my total to €100,000 raised for them.”
Maher has previously undertaken other colossal challenges to raise funds for Special Olympics Ireland.
In the last few years, Maher has completed a five marathons in five days challenge, a non-stop 130 mile run from Dublin to Limerick, a non-stop cycle the same distance, as well as a swim across Dublin Bay from Poolbeg to the Forty Foot in 4 degrees October water.
The magnitude of his latest challenge is not lost on Maher. “When you think about it hour by hour, it does get slightly more momentous...It’s just going to be a really, really long day.”
Despite channelling his inner David Goggins, Maher says he needs to fear the challenges to spur him on.
“I’m actually quite a lazy person...If I don’t have something to aim for in the distance, I just won’t do it.
“If it’s something that doesn’t scare me into having to train for it, I’ll just go light on it.
“I have to keep thinking up these things; my wife hates me for it. She keeps asking me will this one be the last one? But I can’t promise you just yet.”
Maher’s run will take place from 9 am on Thursday until the same time on Friday morning, with consistent rain and 34km/hr winds throughout. Maher said he has kept a close eye on the weather in the lead up to the challenge.
“I’ve been looking at the app saying, ‘they have to be getting this wrong; it doesn’t make sense,'", the presenter said.
You can donate to Maher and Special Olympics Ireland at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/brian-maher2021
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