Redditch man completes 'equator' run challenge

Doug Richards (left) has run half marathons in every continent as part of the feat

A man has achieved his goal of running the equivalent distance of the Earth's circumference at the equator.

Doug Richards, 74, from Redditch, Worcestershire, ran the last of his 24,902 miles for charity at Arrow Valley Country Park on Saturday.

Dr Richards, who was a baton bearer for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, has run half marathons in every continent as part of the feat.

He has raised more than £80,000 during the challenge.

The runner said the support had been "absolutely fantastic".

Dr Richards stated: "Everybody's been so lovely. My son ran with me, but a group of friends... were running around me, so we all ran together and thoroughly enjoyed it. Happily the rain stayed off."

Speaking from the finish line, he said: "We're in a sort of outside area, a covered outside area, drinking coffee at the moment. I'll have something a bit stronger when I get home."

Dr Richards has raised more than £80,000 for charities

The runner told BBC Hereford and Worcester that among his memories was a run in Sri Lanka in 2005 during which about 40 village children ran with him, helping him complete a half marathon.

Dr Richards said the children, who had witnessed the effects of a devastating tsunami the year before, shouted out to him, "Can we run with you Grandfather?" which became the title of his second book.

The money raised during the challenge included £10,000 for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity thanks to the Redditch resident, who took up running 27 years ago.

He said: "If you'd told me then after the first run where that was going to take me, I would never ever have believed you.

"It's just been crazy. But I've taken it up. Since about 1995 I've run pretty consistently and I probably run four or five times a week and I just love it."

The runner completed the feat at Arrow Valley Country Park