Brave 18-year-old hopes to raise �5,000 to help disadvantaged Romanian children

A Kilburn resident is in the midst of an Olympic sized task as he attempts to battle the aches and pains and complete 12 marathons in just 20 days.

Arthur Gallimore, who lives in Mortimer Crescent, is currently on a 310 mile mega trip, from Lands End in Cornwall to the Olympic Stadium in East London as he strives to raise �5,000 to help disadvantaged Romanian children.

The 18-year-old is currently completing his eighth marathon in only 10 days as he makes his way from Axminster to Yeovil in Somerset.

Arthur, who began his epic quest at the start of the month has been largely operating alone, staying in bed and breakfasts and hostels, but took time out of busy schedule to speak to the Times from a windswept hillside.

He said: “I wanted to do something with an Olympic theme, which is why I chose to run 12 marathons in the year 2012 and will be finishing at the Olympic Stadium.

“I have been on really beautiful runs so far, running through Dartmoor (in Devon) was amazing and the scenery was beautiful but my body is starting to catch up with me.”

The 18-year-old, who has been in intensive training since September is a former pupil at Gladstone Park Primary School, in Sherrick Green Road and has already raised more than �2,000 for charity LimXpo.

The charity, who run a project called Helping Hands in Romania aim to engage deprived young children in education and activities to help them through life.

He said: “Sometimes when you are running or trying to get out of bed in the morning it’s hard but then you think about what you are raising the money and it makes it all worth it.

The work they do is amazing, the effort I am putting in to this challenge is nothing when you look at all the time and effort that the charity workers put in.”

Mr Gallimore’s effort follows a similar venture in which Kensal Rise resident and comedian Eddie Izzard who ran 43 marathons in 51 days in 2009.

In addition, the 18-year has taken on the diet of an Olympian as he packs in 4,000 calories a day.

He said: “I’m had enough pasta and brown rice to last a lifetime already but I just have to keep going because I know what good the money could do.”

He will cross the finish line on Saturday (21).