Matthew Loddy, British Businessman And Amateur Runner, Does 100 Marathons In 100 Days For Cancer Awareness (VIDEO)

After his close friend died from a rare cancer, Matthew Loddy immediately raced into action.

The 46-year-old British businessman, who had no previous running experience, set out to complete 100 marathons, in 100 days in honor of his buddy Phil Latham who died from stomach cancer, NBC reports.

Three hospital stints and 2,620 miles later, Loddy completed his journey on Sunday when he crossed the finish line in London.

“Hopefully, he’s up there looking down thinking, it’s a good job done,” Loddy told NBC.

The father of two told the Daily Mail that the inspiration for his journey came from talks he had with Latham in the hospital.

When his friend’s health was improving, Loddy and Latham talked about participating in a charity walk for young cancer sufferers. But when Latham’s condition took a turn for the worse, Loddy made a promise to complete their mission –- and take it thousands of miles further.

"What's going to happen with this sponsored walk? [I] I'll have to do it myself," Loddy joked to his friend before he passed away, according to the news outlet. "Then I changed it to 100 marathons in 100 days finishing in England.'”

Loddy started his journey in Portugal and made his way through Spain and France, NBC reports. In addition to clocking in 2,620 miles, Loddy hopes to raise 100,000 pounds for the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity that aims to improve the quality of life for young people battling cancer and St Francis Hospice in Berkhamsted, where Latham was treated before he died in 2010 at age 36, according to Loddy's fundraising site.

“I'm immensely proud of Matthew's commitment and absolute guts,” Latham's widow, Karen, told the Daily Mail. “Phil would be so proud of what Matthew is doing not only in his name but in that of our daughters Holly and Evie.”

At 3:09:33, according to his fundraising site, Loddy’s final marathon of the tour was his fastest yet.

Learn how you can help Loddy complete the charity portion of his mission here.

To see more inspiring photos of Matthew Loddy as he completed his 100-marathon journey, click through the slideshow below.

Comments

[ninjacb]

12:20 PM on 04/24/2012

while i applaud this man's determination i am left thinking that he very likely has an obsession with running. he just can NOT run. it is a compulsion i recently read about. there are several like him. and in every single instance their bodies could not support the compulsion. i do hope he is able to deliver the pledge money he collected before his body breaks down.

[Curlee]

12:17 PM on 04/24/2012

It is very admirable what he has done, and for a worthy cause. But I can't help but wonder what impact this might have on his own life longevity. The human body is a machine, subject to wear and tear like any other machine over time. Exercise is good of course, but I think it is possible to push your body too much.

[viciousvirago]

10:25 AM on 04/24/2012

Holy moly: I wanna meet this man. He's got tenacity and willingness of heart (literally) and the morals and principles of a holy man. Not to mention a great cardiovascular system.

My admiration to you, sir. My GREAT admiration.

[straight skinny]

02:42 AM on 04/24/2012

That's what I call True Friendship!

[thelatescottbaio]

02:24 AM on 04/24/2012

not really impressive when the monks at mount hiei do 52 miles a day everyday for 7 years

[J Owen Williams]

01:55 AM on 04/24/2012

Say goodbye to your knees, Matt.

[David Glenn Allen]

01:04 AM on 04/24/2012

And I won't even do a half-hour power walk!Props to him!

[SuperDaveOsborn]

01:01 AM on 04/24/2012

Now if he did this for Mental Health Awareness - this would make more sense !

[maniacposter]

12:29 AM on 04/24/2012

How could any human being possibly do that?

[mngnman]

11:25 PM on 04/23/2012

At this point in time we are all pretty aware of "cancer" Id be more impressed if we actually found a cure

[victorzeller]

11:41 PM on 04/23/2012

There is a cure, but the American Cancer Society wouldn't make enough money off of it.

[BeerLover]

10:36 PM on 04/23/2012

The only person who we should donate our money to to help BEAT CANCER... is Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski!!! DO NOT give to the NCI....useless and the FDA is just working for Pharma.

A MUST WATCH for anyone affected by cancer......and there are many of us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be1ihuZNg84

[exhaustedtg]

09:40 PM on 04/23/2012

A true accomplishment. I recall a gentleman about a year or so ago doing 100 marathons in 140 days for his daughter in support of mental illness...Guy Fessenden.

[victorzeller]

11:42 PM on 04/23/2012

You sure he wasn't running in the marathons for HIMSELF?

[Candy Man]

08:51 PM on 04/23/2012

I'm pretty tired... I think I'll go home now.

[dansss8128]

10:59 PM on 04/23/2012

lol Forest! Is that you?????

[muckatuck]

08:45 PM on 04/23/2012

hats off to this guy.what a great feat.i ran 'a' marathon and could hardly walk for a week.

[alankeithbricker]

09:05 PM on 04/23/2012

Likewise. I've completed two in a period of two years. It was enough for me. 100? In 100 days? Hats off to this guy. For once, Huff Post has a story worth reading.

[malefidus1]

08:24 PM on 04/23/2012

I did 100 marathons in 100 days once….but then I woke up.

[Edwin Keever Jr]

08:43 PM on 04/23/2012

Go back to sleep.

[victorzeller]

11:43 PM on 04/23/2012

Whenever I think about training for a marathon, I like to take a nap until the feeling goes away.