Record-breaking soldier Darren Hardy set to run 10 marathons in 100 hours for charity

Former soldier Darren Hardy has set off on an epic run from Salford Quays, where he will run 10 consecutive marathons in 100 hours in aid of saving a young girl from a rare and life-threatening disease.

Experts have warned that his latest challenge will take more than six months for his body to recover.

The 36-year-old said he was inspired to take on the challenge to raise money for 13-year-old Aggie Candy-Waters, who suffers from a neurodegenerative condition called H-ABC - a severe form of TUBB4a leukodystrophy.

For Aggie, and thousands like her around the world, there is hope for a treatment, yet without vital fundraising from people like Darren, there is a chance that the medications under development will not be ready in time.

“I’m not embarking on this light-heartedly,” he said. “I’m going to need to draw on every ounce of motivation and determination to make it through.

“I am fascinated about testing the limitations of the human body, but this one is going to truly hurt.”

Having been medically discharged from the army with PTSD in 2017, Hardy’s mental health saw him on the verge of taking his own life.

Saved by the support of his family and training for ever more extreme physical challenges, Darren regularly refers to his bid to push human performance further than ever as “his therapy”.

Darren, from Fleet in Hampshire, is no stranger to extreme endurance challenges as last year, he ran 131 miles along the south coast and broke two world records by pulling a car.

He said: “After the south coast challenge I was ruined for months, so that puts the enormity of this into context.”

“I got to know Aggie and her family last year, and we formed a deep bond.

“Ever since then I’ve done whatever I can to help.”

As part of his mission, Daren also plans to visit three young H-ABC patients, and biotech company SynaptixBio, which is developing the treatment for TUBB4a leukodystrophy.

Aggie’s Mum Ali said that Darren is “a modern-day superhero”.

She added: “He’s willing to risk his own health and push his body to the absolute limit - all to help our little girl.

“We really can’t thank him enough.”

For more information and to donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/darren-hardy123