Calling the challenge The Ultimate Sacrifice, Brian set his goal on running a mile for every life lost in the recent campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan (himself serving in both). That’s 635 miles – the distance from London to Zurich – completed in 25 days. "I wanted to pay my respects to the 635 people who gave their lives during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.”
“I know I’m going to be in a lot of pain, but it’s nothing compared to the pain that the families who [have] lost loved ones.” Said Brian in an interview with Good Morning Britain, on the start line of the first marathon. “I’m prepared to go to some dark places for this incredible cause and this charity.”
Every day there’d be a different 26.2-mile route, beginning at different barracks across the south of England, places like HMS Collingwood, HMNB Portsmouth and RAF Odiham. Brian wore a new shirt for every run, a list of soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice printed on the back.
Here's the Ultimate Challenge in a few crucial numbers:
His first marathon, on November 1st, started in the town of Borden, in Hampshire. He completed the 26.2 miles in under five hours. This would set the pace for future runs, aside from one special run: on marathon 19 around Portsmouth Harbour, Brian brought his time down to a remarkable 3 hours 53 minutes. Even hundreds of miles into the challenge he was able to push his body to break his own records.
Brian would never be alone on the track, though. Every marathon he was joined by friends and well-wishers running beside him, providing invaluable moral support. Not only that, tens of thousands of peoples commented on his Ultimate Sacrifice cheering him on via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram; his run completion posts alone received over 175,000 likes across the four platforms.
On November 25th he finally completed his last marathon in the same location, with crowds cheering him on and celebrating his achievement. After fighting through aching knees, tiredness, pain and mental distress Brian raised a huge amount of money for charity, reaching a national audience with news articles and interviews on morning TV.
