Australian marathoner Tony Stevens and British cancer survivor Jonathan Acott (above, left and middle) have achieved an extraordinary milestone by completing the Antarctica marathon, marking the culmination of their seven marathons on seven continents challenge.
Tony and Jonathan joined an elite group of around 900 athletes to have completed a marathon on all seven continents in the world.
The duo relied on the comprehensive benefits of CurraNZ to support them through the years of planning, training, travelling and racing.
Tony, a 53-year-old paramedic from Australia, embarked on this journey as a tribute to a dear friend who tragically passed away from a heart attack at a young age.
Determined to make the most of his life, Tony set out to conquer marathons on all seven continents and achieve his ‘6 stars’ by running the Marathon Majors in Tokyo, London, New York, Boston, Chicago and Berlin.
After Antarctica, (where's he's pictured, left, with his 7 Continents Medal), Tony sealed the dream by running the last of the ‘Big Six’ in Boston, achieving the notable double in just five weeks.
"Running the continents and major marathons has been my way of embracing life and honoring the memory of my friend," says Tony.
"Running gives me purpose and energy, and I believe CurraNZ has played a crucial role in fueling my success. As a natural supplement, it aligns perfectly with my holistic approach to health and fitness."
Tony's dedication to his goals extends beyond the marathon course, as he aims to inspire his family and colleagues to lead healthy, active lifestyles. Despite the demands of his stressful job as a paramedic, he finds solace and rejuvenation in running, which he believes has been instrumental in maintaining his mental health and well-being.
‘I did this to show anything is possible if you know your limitations’
Six-time cancer survivor Jonathan Acott (left) set out on the Seven Marathons path to show that "anything is possible if you know your limitations not your limits".
The motivational speaker and resilience coach, 49, says: “I was first diagnosed with cancer in 2004 which means nearly a half of my life has been spent living with cancer.
“I’ve undergone months of chemotherapy in hospital. I have had six major surgeries, I’ll take medication for life as I have a compromised immune system, I have permanent nerve damage and hearing loss, I live in pain every day - amongst a host of other issues.
"Six times I have heard the words ‘it’s cancer’, but I have also climbed mountains and finished an Ironman, walked on fire and run marathons.
"I have thrived in life because I have learned resilience, pragmatism, perspective and I have learned to listen to my body. Maybe I can’t run like I used to but I can still run and as long as I’m moving I’m still alive”?
“There are millions of other people who are surviving cancer but they can't get out there and exercise the way they want to. I can. I run to inspire anybody who’s struggling in their life, I’ve made the most of myself and I hope that others can take inspiration from my journey"
The pursuit of this dream has seen Jonathan complete his seven marathons over 5 years, taking him to Berlin (European Continent), Marrakesh (African Continent), Austin (North America), Curaçao (South America), Dubai (Asia), Perth (Australia) and Antarctica.
"So, as well as ensuring that I have a very carefully tailored training plan, I use CurraNZ for their array of properties. This way, I can make sure that I am always ready for the next training session.”
