Tullamore man's 10 marathon feat
By next Saturday evening Tullamore resident Denzil Jacobs will have completed a gruelling ten marathons in ten days, the first event of its kind in Ireland.
Not content with just running a total of 262 miles however, he’s also hoping to go the distance fundraising at least €10,000 for Saplings School for children with autism.
Originally from South Africa, the occupational therapist who specialises in autism moved to Tullamore from the UK eleven years ago.
Plans to stay for two years were quickly changed when he fell in love with Elaine Grennan and now Tullamore is home.
Working with autism, Denzil said he was prompted to sign up for the marathon a day challenge because of what children with autism face.
“They’re facing marathons daily in their lives. My ten in ten is just a small fraction of what they face,” he said, adding that services are not sufficient, resources are short and awareness is scarce.
A runner for most of his life, Denzil will have completed 69 marathons in total - and 55 in the last two years - come the end of Saturday’s marathon.
The event he’s taking part in is taking place in Sixmilebridge in Clare, and every day he travels down to complete his daily marathon before returning to his family in Tullamore.
On Saturday they will be waiting at the finish line to cheer him home however, and good wishes will also be travelling to Clare from his Tullamore Harriers clubmates.
“The Harriers really got me going,” Denzil says. “Without the guys I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
During this week Denzil has been updating his fans on his progress through his Facebook page “Denzil’s Doing It”.
He said he’s feeling great, even in the hot, tar-melting weather, and is enjoying the atmosphere created by runners, race organisers and cheering locals.
More information on Denzil’s progress is available by visiting https://www.facebook.com/pages/Denzils-Doing-It/271684749631315?fref=ts, while donations to the cause can be made at http://www.mycharity.ie/event/denzils_doing_it/.