What is the Run The Country challenge?

*Richard has finished the run; €35,405 was raised; see race updates for more

From June 23rd to 27th, Richard Donovan will attempt a record-breaking run from Mizen Head to Malin Head. The total distance from the most southerly point of Ireland to the most northerly point is 365 miles or almost 600km. Richard hopes to average 80+ miles per day - more than 3 full marathons - in an effort to set a new record for the route.

Run the Country is a genuinely tough endurance challenge. It's not a marathon per day or a marathon per month, but 3 full marathons day after day after day after day against the clock. After four-and-a-half days, Richard hopes to have completed the equivalent of 14 marathons to finish the 365-mile distance in a new record time.

Richard is running the length of the country to raise funds for Camp Claddagh, an outreach group of the Chernobyl Children's Project. The goal is to raise €45,000 to bring 46 children to Galway in July for recuperation from the contaminated zones of Belarus. Such a trip is a life-changing event for these children, not only improving the quality of their lives with a dream holiday, but also adding years to them. Approximately €10,000 of the funds would help pay for a 'Home of Hope' for ten children in Belarus.

Every cent contributed will go directly to helping these children: Camp Claddagh is a voluntary organisation; the children will stay with volunteer host families; and all expenses associated with this record attempt are already paid.

Richard is dedicating the record attempt to his sister-in-law, Fiona Carrick, who tragically died of cancer on 30th March at only 35 years of age.

Any contribution to the Camp Claddagh, however small, will be much appreciated and is a life-changing gift for the children involved.