Published Wednesday, 05 September 2012
Personal trainer Philip Mitchell completed 20 marathons in 20 days for charity. (© UTV)
Philip Mitchell, who works at Cookstown Leisure Centre as a personal trainer, set upon the challenge on 11 August.
The 31-year-old endured the tough trek of 524 miles around Northern Ireland over 20 days, covering 26.2 miles each day to finish back in Cookstown on Thursday.
And the journey wasn't an easy one with Philip enduring a leg injury on day three and on occasion he had to struggle through heavy rain and winds
Philip's route started out in Cookstown and saw him make his way to Omagh; Strabane; Derry/Lderry; Limavady; Coleraine; Portballintrea; Ballycastle; Waterfoot; Larne; Antrim; Glengormley; Bangor; Portaferry; Comber; Downpatrick; Newcastle; Warrenpoint; Banbridge; Armagh and finally finishing back in Cookstown.
"It feels absolutely fantastic to reach that finish line, it's been an amazing journey," he said.
"The support for my challenge has been simply over-whelming and I'd especially like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the hotels along the route for offering me a bed for the night."
Before his main 'Challenge 20/20' Philip had already organised with his supporters, other events and activities including a 'Dining in the Dark' experience at Killymoon Golf Club in June, a relay team running the Belfast Marathon and a planned swim across Lough Neagh in September.
The Co Tyrone man has raised £8,500 so far and he hopes the last event will help him reach his £10,000 target for RNIB.
Jackie Cotton, RNIB NI Community Vision Co-ordinator (CVC) for Mid Ulster, said: "We are extremely grateful for the effort Philip has put in to this challenge. For 20 days he has been totally selfless and only focused on achieving his goal."