Mark Heffernan reaches the finish line after his 100km Teenage Cancer Trust charity run. Howard Gadsby.
Alton cricketer Mark Heffernan completed the first century of the season by utilising the Longest Day by running a remarkable 100 kilometres to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust.
The PE teacher and Alton stalwart was inspired to attempt the challenge after a team-mate's young daughter and another friend were recently diagnosed with cancer, writes Howard Gadsby.
With no cricket due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mark was determined to try and do something to help in an otherwise helpless situation.
"I just didn't know what to do or how to help" he said, "so I just decided to do a challenge to raise money for a good cause"
Jubilee Fields where Alton play is exactly 1 kilometre around the perimeter, so Mark dreamt up the challenge to run a century of laps for a full total of 100 kilometres in a day. He chose Father’s day due to its significance to his team-mate whose daughter is battling the disease.
After posting his goal on social media and reaffirming: "You can't go back once you've put it out there" Mark set up his fundraising site and shared it with a few friends. He was hoping to raise £500 for Teenage Cancer Trust, but the donations soon overwhelmed that target and by the big day he had already raised over £6,000
Starting at 5 o’clock in the morning, Mark ticked off his first marathon in little over four hours and completed his half century just after 10am. Heavy rain was then replaced by warm sunshine and a keen breeze which made the afternoon conditions more challenging.
The PE teacher and Alton stalwart was inspired to attempt the challenge after a team-mate's young daughter and another friend were recently diagnosed with cancer, writes Howard Gadsby.
With no cricket due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mark was determined to try and do something to help in an otherwise helpless situation.
"I just didn't know what to do or how to help" he said, "so I just decided to do a challenge to raise money for a good cause"
Jubilee Fields where Alton play is exactly 1 kilometre around the perimeter, so Mark dreamt up the challenge to run a century of laps for a full total of 100 kilometres in a day. He chose Father’s day due to its significance to his team-mate whose daughter is battling the disease.
After posting his goal on social media and reaffirming: "You can't go back once you've put it out there" Mark set up his fundraising site and shared it with a few friends. He was hoping to raise £500 for Teenage Cancer Trust, but the donations soon overwhelmed that target and by the big day he had already raised over £6,000
Starting at 5 o’clock in the morning, Mark ticked off his first marathon in little over four hours and completed his half century just after 10am. Heavy rain was then replaced by warm sunshine and a keen breeze which made the afternoon conditions more challenging.
 Mark gets a helping hand from some Alton clubmates. |  Blister break |
However, many friends, team-mates and colleagues provided socially distanced support during the day, by running laps or shouting encouragement. A few team-mates racked up enormous totals of their own, running 50km or a marathon for the first time.
Yet Mark still had twice that distance to cover and continued to churn out the laps into the afternoon as the temperature rose.
The crowd shouted their encouragement as he passed the cricket pavilion on every lap and despite having some issues with his feet, Mark never looked in too much discomfort as he closed in on his remarkable century.
Applause
Yet Mark still had twice that distance to cover and continued to churn out the laps into the afternoon as the temperature rose.
The crowd shouted their encouragement as he passed the cricket pavilion on every lap and despite having some issues with his feet, Mark never looked in too much discomfort as he closed in on his remarkable century.
Applause
The finish came at 4:30pm as Mark completed his 100th lap to loud cheers and applause, with a half-smile come-grimace on his face, before stopping his watch at 10h 23m moving time, sitting on the floor and giving his daughter a huge hug.
By the time he had finished, the fund-raising effort had reached over £6,000 with the total still rising in the time since.
"It's never been about me" Mark was keen to stress, as he spoke to both of his friends dealing with their illness, and their families. This started off as a silly idea in the hope of raising £500, but it's gone much beyond that now and on Sunday I saw a whole community come together for a great cause. I'm thankful for being able to be part of it and hope our effort brings a positive boost to those who need it. It just wanted to do something", he said.
You can do something too, by donating to Teenage Cancer Trust at Mark's Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Mark-Heffernan2
* Mark Heffernan celebrates his first century of the season.
By the time he had finished, the fund-raising effort had reached over £6,000 with the total still rising in the time since.
"It's never been about me" Mark was keen to stress, as he spoke to both of his friends dealing with their illness, and their families. This started off as a silly idea in the hope of raising £500, but it's gone much beyond that now and on Sunday I saw a whole community come together for a great cause. I'm thankful for being able to be part of it and hope our effort brings a positive boost to those who need it. It just wanted to do something", he said.
You can do something too, by donating to Teenage Cancer Trust at Mark's Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Mark-Heffernan2
* Mark Heffernan celebrates his first century of the season.
