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Bobby White recently completed the remarkable feat of running seven marathons on seven continents within the span of just seven days, dedicating the challenge to the memory of his younger brother, Anton. Each marathon covered the standard distance of 26.2 miles (42.2 km), with Bobby maintaining an average finishing time of just over five hours. Anton, who tragically passed away at the age of 15 in 2004, has been honored through the family’s ongoing fundraising efforts, which have raised more than £100,000 for the Glasgow Hospital Children’s Charity.
The demanding World Marathon Challenge, which Bobby financed himself at a cost of $49,500 USD (£36,749), began in Antarctica at the Ultima Base on January 31. From there, he raced across the globe with stops in Cape Town, South Africa; Perth, Australia; Dubai, UAE; Madrid, Spain; Fortaleza, Brazil; and finally Miami, US, where the event concluded on February 6. This extreme endurance event has been completed by fewer than 250 participants worldwide. Despite the grueling nature of the challenge, involving running a total of 183 miles and enduring around 68 hours of flights amid temperature variations from -10C to 30C, Bobby persevered through all stages.
Bobby confessed that his journey nearly came to a halt early on in Antarctica when severe calf cramps struck him within the first 5 to 6 kilometers of the race. Reflecting on this moment, he shared, “My calves blew up 5 to 6km in and caused me a whole lot of problems to the point I thought I was going to DNF [Did Not Finish] and probably not start the second. I kind of went into a deep, dark place. I cried. I had put so much into this.” Encouragement from a fellow runner known as Serge, who was also competing in memory of his late son, helped refocus Bobby’s determination to continue. This motivation carried him through to the finish of each race, including memorable moments like crossing the finish line in Australia alongside relatives and completing the marathon in Madrid, his personal favorite course.
Bobby’s dedication stems from the loss of his brother Anton to an undiagnosed heart condition. Reflecting on his brother’s passing, Bobby said, “He was 15 years old and just getting to the good part of his life. He was the best wee brother ever. Grief still lasts to this day. It’s hard.” The family has continually supported the Glasgow Hospital Children’s Charity (formerly the Yorkhill Children’s Charity), expressing gratitude for the help they received at the time of their tragedy. Through his recent marathon challenge, Bobby has raised over £32,000 on his JustGiving page and emphasized the impact of their efforts: “I’ve seen first hand the difference this is going to make and I’m so proud to be able to have done this.” Kirsten Watson, chief executive of the charity, praised Bobby’s achievement and ongoing support, stating, “Completing
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