The founder of Epping Forest’s largest emergency food agency braved freezing weather and extreme conditions to join an elite club of runners after completing a global challenge.

3Food4U’s chair of trustees Pesh Kapasiawala has been on a personal challenge over the past few years to raise money for the charity by running a full marathon on each continent, and on March 15 he completed his seventh and final continent, Antarctica.

Pesh said "Wow, what a tough Antarctica Marathon. The journey to Antarctica took four to five days crossing the The Drake Passage - one of the most treacherous and dangerous bodies of water in the world with regular 10m to 12m waves. Then we had to wait patiently for days for a weather window for us to run the marathon safely.

Epping Forest Guardian: Pesh at the Antarctica Marathon.Pesh at the Antarctica Marathon. (Image: 3Food4U)

“It was the hardest I've ever run. Even the elite guys and girls struggled. The weather was calm for the first ten miles but turned to snow and high wind. It was all 26 miles of massive hills and downs. But the scenery was breathtaking.

Epping Forest Guardian: An incredible experience for Pesh and his fellow runners.An incredible experience for Pesh and his fellow runners. (Image: 3Food4U)

“More than half the runners failed to finish or dropped down to half marathon. I've now joined an elite club of people who have completed a marathon on every continent."

It's not too late to donate to Pesh’s marathon challenge by visiting https://www.stewardship.org.uk/pages/Pesh_AntarcticaMarathonChallenge 3Food4U’s community surplus hubs are open as follows:

  • Monday: Waltham Abbey - 13 Sun Street - 11.30am to 1pm
  • Tuesday: Loughton - Loughton Club, 8 Station Road - 11.30am to 1pm
  • Wednesday: Chigwell Row - All Saints Church Hall, Romford Road - 5pm to 6.30pm
  • Thursday: Ongar - Zinc Arts Centre, High Street - 1pm to 2.30pm
  • Friday: Waltham Abbey - 13, Sun Street - 11.30am to 1pm

For further details, visit 3food4u.org, email info.3food4u@gmail.com or call 01992 842642.