Fitness buddies beat gruelling record

TWO fitness fanatics achieved a world record breaking challenge to raise charity funds.

In the ultimate test of strength and endurance, Simon Boguszewski, 34, of Bawtry, and Mark Goodwin, 32, of Lound, set themselves the ambitious aim of completing eight gruelling fitness challenges in 24 hours.

They did it for the Yorkshire Kidney Research Fund, of which Simon is vice chairman. Simon has continued to support the charity through his 11-year-old daughter Jasmine's acute kidney failure a few years ago and subsequent full recovery, and as a keen fitness fan has taken part in numerous sponsored physical challenges for the fund.

But his latest attempt saw him – along with Mark, whom he met at the gym, Bawtry Health and Fitness Studios, where they trained together and did the challenge – literally go the extra mile for a worthy cause.

Unbelievably, they ran a half marathon, rowed a half marathon, cross-trained a full marathon, cycled 125 miles, speed-walked 10km, lifted 113 tonnes and did 1000 press-ups and 1250 bench sit-ups – all in 23 hours, five minutes and 30 seconds!

Fellow gym fan Andy Store, of Harworth, also lifted 705 tonnes in 24 hours, beating his target of 500 tonnes.

Thanks to the support from businesses and individuals – even pop group BoyZone showed their support during their recent stay in Bawtry – and the level of publicity across the regional media, the challenge has so far managed to raise £11,000, with money still coming in.

Along with the fitness challenge, a raffle and auction were also held at the gym. And on Father's Day, around 140 diners celebrated the new world record with a Yorkshire-themed Sportsmen's Dinner at Bawtry's Crown Hotel, and an auction was held, which alone raised £3,500.

"We had hoped to raise £10,000, so to be at £11,000 now with cash still coming in is a great success," said Simon.

He said the hardest part of the challenge physically was rowing the half marathon.

"It was really tough," he said. "I've done similar challenges in the past, like running marathons, but to do all this was pushing my fitness levels to another extreme!"

So is it time to put his feet up now and relax for a bit? Not likely. "I will still do the marathons, but I think we will wait a few years before any other world-record-breaking attempts!" he said.