A NEWTON Abbot man has celebrated completing an extraordinary running challenge raising more than £7,000 for Rowcroft Hospice - smashing his original fundraising target.

Geoff Pring, pictured, set himself the ambitious task of running 50 half marathons in 50 weeks to raise money for the South Devon-based end-of-life charity.

Having started his challenge in Palma, Majorca, in October 2025, Geoff crossed the finish line of his 50th half marathon at Rowcroft Hospice at Avenue Road on Saturday, October 10.

The occasion was celebrated with family, friends and colleagues who gathered to cheer Geoff across the finish line followed by tea and plenty of cake.

And Geoff wasn’t quite finished.

Having begun the challenge in Palma, he returned to the Spanish island a few days later to complete one final run - number 51 - while celebrating his 50th birthday.

However, it is the fundraising achievement that has given Geoff the greatest reason to celebrate. He initially set out to raise £5,000, but thanks to the generosity of supporters, he has now raised more than £7,000, which includes gift aid.

‘What started as a momentary, passing idea, having run my first half in years, gathered momentum both in fundraising and stamina, over each passing month’, Geoff said.

I have been galvanised by the moral and financial support of all those believing in me’, Geoff added.

Throughout the challenge, Geoff tackled everything from soaking wet winter conditions to repeated summer heatwaves.

Geoff completed his 25th half marathon at Buckfast Abbey where he works as the Director of Visitor Experience.

He says it was one of his most memorable, completing 21 laps of the grounds.

The toughest run, however, was in Kylemore Lough in County Galway, during an especially wet and windy visit to Kylemore Abbey in January.

One of the more unusual routes saw Geoff run along both sides of the River Avon, from Avonmouth to the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Geoff’s fastest half marathon came at the Torbay Half Marathon, where he achieved a personal best of one hour and 34 minutes.

Although many of his runs were completed alone, Geoff was joined by family and friends along the way. His wife Helen ran 10km alongside him in Exeter, Torbay and Palma, while his son Oliver and niece Emily joined him for different stages of the challenge.

‘I guess I am a bit like Forest Gump, and finding it hard to stop!’, Geoff said.

‘I have now joined my local running club, Teignbridge Trotters, as I thought it would be more sociable to be running with others’, Geoff added.

Rowcroft Hospice provides care and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families across South Devon.

It offers in-patient and outpatient services, as well as care and support in patients' homes.