Ben Duffy almost halfway through 52 week marathon challenge

A Melbourne man has made the ambitious task of running a marathon a week for an entire year. This is what’s motivated him to undertake the insane challenge.

Ben Duffy is running a marathon every week this year for the Pat Cronin Foundation. Picture: Josie Hayden

One marathon is a feat in and of itself.

Doing 52 of them in 52 weeks however, that speaks to something greater.

For Ben Duffy, 20, the self-employed task of doing a marathon every week this year holds special significance as he attempts to raise $26,000 for the Pat Cronin Foundation.

Mr Duffy told the Herald Sun the inspiration behind his bold plan was born after Pat’s father, Matt Cronin, gave a presentation at his school three years ago.

Pat was just 19-years-old when he was struck in the head and killed after a night out in Diamond Creek back in 2016.

Pat’s tragic story rocked Melbourne at the time, and as Mr Duffy explained, continues to impact young men to this day.

“It really captivated me and a lot of my mates,” he said.

Patrick Cronin was killed in a one-punch attack in 2016.

Inspired by Mr Cronin’s words, and having enjoyed his running at the time, Mr Duffy said he had the idea of attacking something “really tough”.

Following the Melbourne Marathon last year, he called up Mr Cronin and pitched his idea of running a marathon a week to help raise funds, which was received with open arms.

“The first one was arguably the toughest one I’ve had so far, one of my mates came with me for 10kms and took me straight up and down hills to start … that was a nice initiation of fire,” he said.

The physical and mental challenge of grinding out another 51 marathons was a daunting prospect at first following that initial run.

But Ben says he is going strong, already 24 weeks in with another 28 weeks to go.

Ben Duffy, 20, with Robyn and Matt Cronin before his first of 52 marathons challenge.

For Mr Cronin, it has been nine years since Pat, the youngest of three kids, went out on that fateful Saturday night and never came home.

“We formed the foundation pretty early after Pat passed away, with the aim to say, how do we stop this from happening? How do we put an end to the coward punch?” he said.

He said it was especially empowering to hear the impact his foundation was having on young men like Mr Duffy, adding it was all about changing attitudes to violence.

“Ben doing what he’s doing at the moment, I’m in awe of the 19-year-old he was when he started … he’s now 20, so he’s an old guy,” Mr Cronin quipped.

“For someone of his age to do what he’s doing, it’s quite incredible.”

To support Mr Duffy’s efforts, follow his progress on Instagram at _52in52 or visit his GoFundMe page.