Carrick footballer’s seafront endurance challenge in memory of granda

Ryan Arthur, who plays for Bangor Football Club and was previously on the books of Carrick Rangers FC, will embark on the 4x4x48 challenge next month in the east Antrim town.

The 25-year-old will be covering four miles, every four hours, for 48 hours - a total of 48 miles in 48 hours - in an endurance challenge made famous by American ultra runner David Goggins.

In a tribute to his later grandfather Samuel Arthur, Ryan will be raising money for and awareness of the Northern Ireland Kidney Patients Association (NIKPA).

Ryan said: “This is a charity I hold close to my heart. My granda had diabetes and was on dialysis for 11 years. Through his illness he ended up having to have multiple amputations of his limbs.

“As you could imagine this had both a physical and mental toll on him. He attended dialysis three to four times a week, for many hours a day, until he passed away in July 2017.

“Throughout his journey he was looked after so well by the dialysis staff in the Belfast City Hospital. So this is also for them in his memory.”

An account manager, who has been working from home since March of last year, Ryan has been putting in practice ahead of the event, which begins on March 12 along Carrickfergus seafront between Fisherman’s Quay and Trooperslane.

“I have been training most days, five to six days a week during lockdown keeping myself busy in between working.

“The challenge is to run four miles every four hours for 48 Hours, a challenge designed by David Goggins, retired United States Navy SEAL and ultra marathon athlete.”

NIKPA provides emotional and practical support to kidney patients and their families. It relies solely on fundraising to continue to help all renal patients at every stage of their treatment.

Ryan adds: “It’s been a hard year for charity’s with Covid hitting and fundraising, get-togethers, etc have almost all been cancelled so hopefully this will help raise some funds for a great local charity In Northern Ireland.”

For more on how to support Ryan, click here

Click here to read: Ryan heads Rangers in right direction

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