A Brecon man who raised £7,420 for Cancer Research Wales by running a mile an hour, on the hour for 24 hours, has been hailed as a hero and a role model.

Kind-hearted Corey Evans lives in the Watton area of the town and is a teaching assistant at Mount Street Nursery and Infant School.

The 24-year-old took on the running challenge earlier this month in support of a close friend who had surgery for a brain tumour last year.

Corey ended up running 28 miles when he decided to keep going for another hour after the 24-hour challenge and clocked up four extra miles.

“The challenge was in aid of a close friend who underwent brain surgery towards the end of 2023”, explained Corey.

“I decided to do a challenge which was one mile, on the hour, every hour for 24 hours and to take it beyond marathon territory I finished with a 4.2 mile run on hour 25 to take it to 28.2 miles in total! “

Corey was overwhelmed by the support he received from friends and family and the people of Brecon during his run. It helped him overcome sleep deprivation and hunger.

“Although friends and family thought I was a little mad for doing this, I was hugely supported, and I was joined by 66 different runners throughout the day. Some completed one mile and some considerably more“, said Corey.

“I chose this challenge as it was different to anything I’ve seen before and wanted it to be unique. It was both physically and mentally draining with no sleep whatsoever and a lack of food.”

Corey took on his mammoth run on June 1 and 2 and his grit and determination paid off when he got to the finish line.

“The hardest part was definitely between 1am and 3am where it was pitch black and required head torches facing the ground constantly, simply one foot in front of the other. To get to the finish line with a crowd of at least 200-300 was special and made every second worthwhile”, said Corey.

“To then see the totaliser go past £7,000 including Gift Aid was truly remarkable and I will forever be beyond grateful.”

Corey’s headteacher at Mount Street Nursery and Infant School - Shan Kenchington, is full of admiration for her colleague and said: “Corey has done an immensely brave challenge by setting out to raise money for Cancer Research Wales by thinking of this really unique challenge. He ran a mile an hour every hour all through the night and we’re just so proud of him.

“This just epitomises everything about him. He’s such a kind man and he thinks about other people and puts everyone else before himself. He’s raised a huge amount of money and taken the whole community and the school community along with him and we’re just so proud of him. He’s a role model to all our young pupils here.”

Corey’s running success has helped him raise £7,420 for Cancer Research Wales – the independent Welsh cancer research charity.

In April this year, Cancer Research Wales launched Wales’s first ever Brain Tumour Research Initiative, which is pledging £1 million over the next five years to research brain tumours.

Iwan Rhys Roberts, Communications and Marketing Manager at Cancer Research Wales said: “We’d like to say a very big ‘Thank you’ to Corey for raising almost £7,500 for Cancer Research Wales by taking on this incredible challenge. He truly is a hero and a very inspiring and caring person.”