Weston Hospicecare supporter Graham Hunt has completed another gruelling challenge in a series of 30-themed fundraising challenges lasting all year.

Builder Graham Hunt, from Worle, rowed 900km in March as part of his 2019 calendar of fundraising challenges to raise money and awareness of the hospice’s 30^th anniversary year.

He rowed 30,000 metres for 30 consecutive days from 1 March to 30 March and says it has been his toughest challenge yet.

In January, Graham completed 30 consecutive days of swimming 30 laps of Nuffield Health swimming pool, in February he walked continuously for 30 hours across North Somerset covering more than 70 miles. Future fundraising efforts this year include cycling from London to Paris, taking on the hospice’s Sahara Trek in November and running 30 marathons in consecutive days in December.   

He said: “It has been a really gruelling experience, all my joints hurt and I really didn’t think it would be as hard as it was.”

Despite his unbelievable achievements, on 24 March he pushed his fundraising efforts even further.

He said: “I came to the gym in the morning and rowed 10km, I then ran the Weston Half Marathon in a time of 1 hour and 51 minutes and then came back and rowed the rest.

“It typically took around four hours each evening for me to complete the 30,000 metres and I am so relieved that it is now over. Not just from a physical perspective, but from a time sense too. I didn’t realise how much it would take over my life.

“Obviously no one made me do this but despite how tough it was, I was delighted and relieved to complete this particular challenge.”

Graham’s wife Victoria was cared for by the hospice before she died which is the main reason he is supporting the charity.

He has also heaped praise on his mother and son for their unwavering support during March and so far during his challenge.

He continued: “My mum Sandra has been excellent throughout. She lives three doors down from me so has been cooking dinner each night in time for when I get back from the gym.

“She’s in her seventies and had a knee replacement last year but that hasn’t stopped her from walking around the town to all the shops and businesses asking for prizes for my raffle later in the year. She has been a fantastic support and her spare bedroom is now full of prizes and I couldn’t be more grateful.

“My son, who is 17, has been balancing his apprenticeship and college work with walking my beloved dogs Forest and Dexter and making sure the house is clean while I was away from the house.”

Graham says he is relieved to have his evenings back, even if it is just to enjoy a beer.

He continued “I must admit, I was surprised by how much it has taken over my life. But I am ecstatic it is over and let’s bring on the next one and continue raising lots of money for the hospice.”

Graham’s next challenge will be a 30-hour stint in a bath full of slime in two 15-hour segments during Friday 12 and Saturday 13 April at the Co-operative shop on Worle high street.

To support Graham’s fundraising, visit his JustGiving page by searching for www.justgiving.com/fundraising/graham-hunt-6610.