Co. Mayo entrepreneur and part-time farmer, Alan Heaney, is preparing to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven consecutive days.

Heaney from Killasser near Swinford will be taking one of the world’s most extreme endurance challenges in aid of the Sunflower Children’s Hospice and Mindspace Mayo.

He is the co-founder and owner of Efficient Farm Systems, Animal Health Monitoring Systems, and both Lely Mullingar and Kilkenny, while also being a part-time farmer.

The World Marathon Challenge (also known as the 777 Challenge) will start on November 15, when Heaney will join a group of approximately 40 endurance athletes from around the world who will travel across the globe to complete each marathon.

The route will take them from the Antarctica to Cape Town, Perth, Singapore, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, and Miami. 

Extreme conditions

During the seven consecutive days, they will face temperatures ranging from -30° to more than 40°, while having to deal with long-haul flights, changing time zones, and limited recovery time between marathons, according to Heaney. 

In preparation, he has been running half marathons three mornings per week, cycling 50km on two evenings every week, while also regularly working out and having and sauna sessions at a gym.

This year marks the tenth consecutive year that Heaney has taken on an ultra-endurance challenge for charity.

During this time, he raised more than €285,000 for various charities across multiple challenges. These include:

The Marathon des Sables (six marathons across 265km);
Running unsupported across the Sahara desert over five days;
The Maple Mizen 2 Malin Ultra Cycling event (600 km) in 22 hours and 20 minutes;
Lands End to John O' Groats (UK) ultra cycle challenge (1,600 km) over four days;
Lourdes to Knock ultra cycle race (2,000km) over five days;
The 32-counties cycle challenge (1,800 km) over six days.

This is also the fourth time that Heaney will be raising funds for Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, with proceeds going towards the new Sunflower Children’s Hospice.

The facility will provide specialist care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families across the western seaboard.

A proportion of the funds raised will also go to Mindspace Mayo, a youth mental health and wellbeing support service, which Heaney supports every year.

Busy schedule

Speaking ahead of the challenge, Heaney said: "I am a very active person who fills the day from end-to-end with farming, business matters, coaching kids, and personal fitness.

"About 10 years ago, I made a deal with myself that I would maintain a perpetual body fitness ... that would allow me compete in a triathlon, Hyrox, football matches, marathons and duathlon whatever it may be, at short notice," he said.

"I love keeping fit and challenging myself. I am very active in local voluntary community groups, but particularly coaching, both GAA and LGFA underage teams," Heaney said.

"When you take on something like this, there are going to be lots of tough long days, but knowing you’re helping to make a genuine difference to families keeps you going and driving on.

"I’m delighted to support the Sunflower Children’s Hospice this year. I’ve seen how Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation delivers on its promises.

"Martina Jennings and her team are brilliant, and I know that the money raised will go towards making a lasting difference, according to Heaney.

"I’m also supporting Mindspace Mayo again this year, which is another cause very close to my heart."

He stressed that the 777 Challenge will be tough: "there’s no doubt about that, outside the running, there are so many other factors at play including: stomach upsets, dehydration, hypothermia, digestive upsets, nausea, muscle cramps and blisters".

Funded by Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, the Sunflower Children’s Hospice in Castlebar, will provide dedicated support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families, across the western seaboard.

Since the plans were first unveiled in November 2025, €9 million has been raised through community and corporate fundraising, donor support and local initiatives.

The final cost of the development is estimated to be about €20 million, with construction expected to start in January 2027.

The project is expected to take approximately two years to complete.

Martina Jennings, CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Heaney for choosing to support the Sunflower Children’s Hospice through an extraordinary challenge.

"Every euro raised brings us a step closer to making this vital service a reality, and Alan’s efforts will help us move closer to that goal."

Alan Heaney's fundraising efforts can be supported on iDonate.