Most people donate money to help those in need. They also hope that if they participate in demonstrations, sign petitions, or distribute leaflets, they will raise awareness about the terrible conditions some people face. However, Eddie Izzard, a 47-year-old British comedian, did something completely different. He decided to raise money by running 1,100 miles (1,760 kilometers) through England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. And he successfully raised over £200,000!

“Run 1,100 miles?” you might ask. That’s equivalent to 1,760 kilometers - how long did it take him to run that? Two years? Well, it would take most people at least that long if they were crazy enough to attempt such a distance. But Eddie Izzard? Believe it or not - it only took him 51 days. For six days out of every seven, he ran at least 26 miles (43 km). In other words, he completed 43 marathons in less than two months, before finishing in a remarkable fashion under pouring rain in London’s Trafalgar Square!

When asked how he felt, he told the BBC that he planned to “sleep for a week.” He expressed gratitude towards the people who waited for him in Trafalgar Square despite the rain. They all came to support him and applaud his incredible achievement. But they weren’t the only ones who accompanied him on his extraordinary journey - in all four countries, local people joined him for parts of his run.

And how long did he have to train for all this? Surprisingly, only five weeks - a fact that becomes even more astonishing when you consider that he wasn’t particularly fit when he decided to take on this challenge.

And what a challenge it was! The comedian admitted that his journey was quite painful. He had to have his feet bandaged every day and even lost several toenails. He also had blisters all over his feet. If he hadn’t taken ice baths for his legs at the end of each day, he wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what he did. These baths helped prevent his legs from swelling to twice the size of an elephant, as Eddie commented.

Both people unfamiliar with running and experts are impressed with his achievements. Andy Dixon, the editor of Runner’s World, a magazine for long-distance runners, says, “Covering 26 miles in a day, regardless of speed, for 43 runs is demanding. A five-hour marathon is a fairly decent pace. It’s a massive achievement.”

So, how did he do it? Well, he initially ran his marathons at a slow pace. He started with ten hours a day and as he became fitter, he got faster. In the end, he was finishing in just over five hours. However, fitness alone was not enough. What mattered more was his desire to make a difference in other people’s lives.

What Eddie Izzard did was so remarkable that a documentary about his run has been made into an inspiring film called “Believe!” In the film, Eddie says, “You’ve got to believe you can be something else. I’ve done that a few times. That’s why I keep going.”