Man with fridge on back completes 30 half-marathons in 30 days

A grandfather finished his 30th consecutive half-marathon on Sunday when he completed the Great North Run with a fridge strapped to his back. Tony Phoenix-Morrison, 48, from Hebburn, South Tyneside, hauled the 40kg appliance round the Newcastle to South Shields route for the 30th time in as many days – a distance of almost 400 miles.

Phoenix-Morrison said he was humbled by the public's response to his sponsored challenge to raise money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, which funds cancer research.



An emotional Phoenix-Morrison said: "People have been amazing. Every step has been cheered all the way along the run. I'm feeling honoured to be able to carry out this challenge. It represents the daily struggle people with cancer have, and the struggle to fight cancer."

He confessed he was not sure he could complete the challenge and said he had been lucky in avoiding injury. He would usually complete the 13-mile course in about two hours, 40 minutes while carrying his heavy load, but his final effort took just over three hours as he stopped to talk to well-wishers, many of whom handed him money for the cause that he then stuffed in his fridge.