Co. Down man takes on Antarctic Ice Marathon in support of children with cancer

Today, Damien Cunningham from Co. Down begins his journey to Antarctica where he will be tackling the infamous Ice Marathon to raise vital funds in support of children and young people impacted by cancer.

Damien set himself the goal of running a marathon in every continent and to date he has completed an incredible 53 marathons across Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. On the 13th December, Damien will be taking on his final and toughest challenge yet, running 26.2 miles in temperatures as cold as -25C. He is putting his mental and physical endurance to the test to help ensure no child has to face cancer alone.

I’ve been doing marathons every year and choosing a charity that I think benefits the whole community. This year I’m honoured to be supporting Cancer Fund for Children who do fantastic work supporting children, young people and families affected by cancer. They are also the chosen charity of my employer, Collins Aerospace, so I think it’s fitting to get behind that relationship and help raise funds.

Damien

In preparation for this monumental challenge, Damien has been doing his best to replicate the conditions he can expect in Antarctica. From training in commercial freezers to mirror the shocking temperatures to running on sand as a replacement for snow, Damien has left no stone unturned as he gets ready to tackle the test of a lifetime.

This is an unbelievable challenge that Damien is taking on, all so that we can continue to be there for children and families when they need us most. We are completely blown away by his dedication, passion and endurance and wish him all the best as he makes his way to Antarctica. Good luck Damien!

Aisling Gibson, South Down and Regional Fundraiser for Cancer Fund for Children

You can get behind Damien’s challenge today by clicking here.