An engineer could be the eighth person ever to run marathons around the world from Europe to Asia and then to North America to raise money for charity.

Mark Shuttleworth, from Harwood, left his stable job in London to set off on a Global Run in June and is currently in Bulgaria.

The thirty-nine-year-old engineer runs a full marathon each running day before taking a day’s break in between.

So far, he has travelled from London across to countries like Belgium, Luxemburg, France, Germany, Switzerland and Slovenia.

The Bolton News: Mark ShuttleworthMark Shuttleworth (Image: Mark Shuttleworth)

The plan is still to get from Europe to Asia, passing countries such as India and Singapore, before heading to Australia and North America and then back to London.

Mark said: “I wanted to be outside more and I wanted a distance running challenge, so why not run across a continent I thought.

“Well, if I do that then I might as well go around the world was my second thought. I'm an idiot.”

Global Run is a challenge to circumnavigate the world with no gaps unless required to cross a body of water.

Mark picked Outward Bound as a charity to run for, which helps disabled young people to be able to get outdoors, something Mark is keen to support.

The avid runner logs his route on Strava, which his family often check to see how he is doing as well as being able to send him money for a coffee or food along the way.

The Bolton News: Mark ShuttleworthMark Shuttleworth (Image: Mark Shuttleworth)

His sister Fiona Hamer said: “I couldn’t believe it at first but anyone having met him would not be surprised at him coming up with this and out of all people, he’d be the one to achieve it.

“I’m in awe at the fact that he can even run that much, I can’t even run 5km so, I think it’s amazing and a little bit crazy.”

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It is estimated that it will take at least two or three years to complete the challenge.

Mark sometimes runs with local running groups in the places he has travelled through and his challenge has gone viral.

People have been messaging the engineer to offer him their gardens to camp and to cook him meals too.

Find out where Mark is now.