Tony ‘the Fridge’ Phoenix-Morrison, from Hebburn, raised over £13,000 for the charity last year by running 30 consecutive, daily half marathons carrying a fridge on his back.
Now Tony is back, with an even larger fridge, and this Friday (19 April) he will be attempting to run for 24 hours, covering an astonishing 100 miles - the equivalent of almost four marathons - around Newcastle’s Quayside after a challenge was issued by online retail giant, Appliances Online.
The Appliances Online 24 Hour Challenge is Tony’s most physically demanding challenge to date and he has been training hard to ensure he is up for it. If he is successful, he will set a Guinness World Record for the longest run completed with a fridge on the runner’s back.
Tony says: “The 30 half marathons felt like a long relentless slog. Every day getting up and out again was really hard but this is a whole different sort of pressure.
“To even carry the fridge for 24 hours isn’t easy but to do that and keep running, well, it’s going to a be a struggle. My new Smeg fridge looks great but at 42kg it’s even heavier than the last one.
“This challenge is best described as the impossible journey. Both mentally and physically, the reality is that I am a Granddad one week away from my 49th birthday and, to be honest, I have no idea whether I can l keep going for 24 hours let alone reach 100 miles.
“My preparation has been good but you can be as thorough as you like and still fail. I was very lucky not to pick up any serious injuries during my marathon challenge and I just hope I’m that lucky again on Friday.
“I’m passionate about raising money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. I’ve seen the work the charity funds and met some remarkable people who are benefitting from it.
“I’m proud to be playing a part and just hope I can complete this challenge and keep helping the charity. Thinking about that, and the loved ones I’ve lost to cancer, will be my motivation when it gets really tough on Saturday afternoon.”
Tony will be setting off at 6pm on Friday and, all being well, will complete 100 one mile laps of Newcastle’s Quayside finishing at 6pm on Saturday. The start and finish point is the Pitcher and Piano bar, which, along with Malmaison Hotel, is providing support.
Tony was challenged by Appliances Online, the UK's largest online kitchen appliance retailer, to undertake the marathon effort. The retail giant is donating £15,000 to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.
John Roberts, chief executive of Appliances Online, says: “The Appliances Online 24 Hour Challenge will be a gruelling test for Tony but I have every confidence that he’ll reach the finish line with flying colours.
“I first heard of Tony when he was doing his 30 consecutive half marathons and immediately got in touch to see how we could help. Six months later, we’re about to see Tony become the first person to undertake the Appliances Online 24 Hour Challenge and take home £15,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.”
The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation funds projects within the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that directly benefit cancer patients from across the north east and Cumbria, and which contribute significantly to wider research into the disease.
To sponsor Tony for The Appliances Online 24 Hour Challenge please visit www.justgiving.com/tonythefridge. Or you can text a donation via JustTextGiving by texting FRID93 and the amount in pounds to 70070.
Please visit www.appliancesonline.co.uk/community/projects/24HourChallenge for more information on Tony’s challenge.
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