BOURNEMOUTH school caretaker Paul O’Boyle received a hero’s welcome after completing 27 marathons in 26 days straight, all for a Christchurch hospice.

Paul, 56, from Boscombe, started his Marathon Man challenge on Thursday, October 1, and since then has risen in the early hours and run a marathon every day to raise funds for the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital.

On weekdays Paul, who survived injuries caused by a serious crash, has worked his regular eight-hour shift as a caretaker at the Bishop of Winchester School.

On the last day of his challenge, Thursday, October 27, Paul ran not one, but two marathons, enjoying a grand finish at the unit and bringing his total distance to 702 miles.

Paul said: “It has been hard, but absolutely incredible. At some points I really worried I was going to get an injury. Other days when the weather was particularly bad it was really tough going and I felt exhausted.

“But on the last day when I did two marathons I actually felt fantastic. Now I’m just absolutely relieved and thankful to have got through it.”

“I’ve had such amazing support throughout from my friends and everyone at the unit and I’ve watched my sponsorship climb from a few pounds at the beginning to now £7,000. I just want to get to £10k and I’ll be on cloud nine.”

Paul’s incredible achievement comes just five years after he suffered terrible injuries when he was hit by a drink driver.

The father-of-one sustained fractures to his skull, ribs and collarbone when he was knocked off his bike in Wallisdown Road in July 2015.

The Macmillan Unit provides palliative care and support for more than 1,600 people and their families every year.

Paul added: “I visited the unit in 2013 to talk about what fundraising I could do and while I was in the waiting room I saw a family whose mother was here. I was so impressed by the personal care and support they were given by the staff, I knew then that I wanted to do whatever I could to help the unit.

“When Macmillan Caring Locally launched the Brick by Brick appeal to build a new, modern building for the unit, I knew I had to come up with something special to raise as much money as possible.

“The Covid epidemic wiped out most of the unit’s fundraising revenue, including five places for its supporters in the London Marathon.

“That was £10k lost right off. And that’s when I hit on the idea for my own marathon challenge.”

Neal Williams, Macmillan trust secretary, said: “We now call Paul the Marathon Man and even that doesn’t do justice to what he has achieved.

“To overcome what he has and go on to conquer such challenges is nothing short of incredible and following his journey each day has been both thrilling and humbling for us all.

“We hope that other people will want to show their admiration for Paul by sponsoring his run.

"What he has achieved is wonderful and by supporting him you will enable us to provide end of life care for even more people and their families.”

Visit justgiving.com/campaign/marathonman