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A Wellingborough student PE teacher has completed a gruelling 48-hour, 48-mile running fundraiser in memory of his dad who died of a stroke nearly ten years ago.

Alfie O'Sullivan battled through darkness and pain, ice and freezing fog to complete 12 four-mile runs every four hours to raise money for the Stroke Association.

Sometimes not even taking time for a shower the 21-year-old catnapped between the runs, thinking of his late dad Tony as he pushed through the pain.

Alfie said: "I was thinking of my dad as I ran and it gave me the motivation to keep going. I remembered what he used to tell me when I was training for a cross-country run.

"When my quads were on fire I thought of the advice he would give me at school - take it slow."

Starting at 10pm on Sunday, Alfie a student at The University of Bedfordshire, completed his first run with the next one starting at 2am by which time the freezing fog had set in.

Assisted by his fiancee Abbey Cottee, 21, who drove a support car, Alfie ran loops of the deserted Finedon Road Industrial Estate.

Alfie O'Sullivan on the finish line of his 12th 4-mile run

He said: "I was like Bambi on ice. There was not a soul around. I was mad how cold and dark it was. I finished at 2.45am after having a wipe down.

"I didn't want to have 12 showers. I was trying to get some sleep. At 5.50am I got up again. I had been looking at my watch ready to go."

Despite an injury sustained last year, Alfie managed the first nine runs without any problems but run number ten proved more problematic.

But his twelfth and final run was his fastest at 32 minutes with his slowest at 36 minutes.

Alfie and his dad Tony who died of a stroke at the ge of 50 when Alfie was eleven.

He said: "I had only just started back to running during lockdown. In March my fitness was so off. During lockdown my fitness returned.

"The tenth run was the hardest. I could feel my legs seizing up. My sweat was like icicles. I could feel the ice in my toes and my hands were freezing when I got in.

"I thought of my dad and did it for him. You've got to turn every negative into a positive."

Abbey's dad Robert, who was at the finish line to welcome him home, said: "I think it is wonderful that he did this in the memory of his dad. We are very proud of him."

Alfie has so far raised £700 through his JustGiving page.

To donate to Alfie's fundraising for The Stroke Association click here .

Wellingborough man's 48-hour, 48-mile marathon in memory of his dad