In honor of Family Stories and Inspirational Role Models Month, we’re excited to share the incredible tale of Guy Fessenden. 54-year-old Guy is a dedicated father who would do anything for his family.
Including run 100 marathons in 140 days.
Fighting Mental Illness
Running any marathon requires motivation. Running 100 marathons in just 140 days requires a determination that is difficult to comprehend. Guy remains committed to this endeavor, and he has a powerful incentive. He is raising awareness of people who suffer from mental illness. In particular, his daughter.
Suzanne Fessenden was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1998. Since then Guy has been outraged at how people with mental illnesses are treated. His goal is to raise donations, gain media exposure and create awareness about the realities of life for the mentally ill. Guy hopes his efforts will lead to new treatments and better care for patients.
On The Run
At 54, Guy feels ready to take on this massive challenge. He says that he is in good shape, and able to run the 2,620 miles this task requires. To accomplish this goal, Guy runs marathons 3 days in a row and then rests on the fourth. It’s a grueling routine that requires an intense level of perseverance.
According to Guy, all this activity does have a positive side. He’s getting so much exercise that he lost 20 pounds. And he can eat whatever he wants. Right now Guy takes in 6,000 calories a day just to maintain his weight.
A Father’s Love
To date, Guy Fessenden has finished just over 25% of the marathons. He keeps his spirits up as well as possible, but of course he is only human. When he feels tired and finds it difficult to go on, he takes a breath and thinks about his daughter. He ponders the difficulties that she must endure every day of her life. It’s all the motivation he needs to continue.
Guy breezed through his first marathon on October 2, and plans to finish by February 19. Even with this hectic schedule, he takes time to write about his adventures in the blog, A Father’s Journey. Visit his site to read about Guy’s exploits, learn more about mental illness and donate to the cause.
November is Family Stories and Inspirational Role Models Month. Guy Fessenden is a great representative of both events. His inspiring story has turned him into a role model, and he did it all for his family. We salute Guy, and we thank you for reading the PeopleFinders people search blog.
