Marathon Quest - Revised & Updated

by Martin Parnell

An engaging and incredible true story detailing the early days of Martin Parnell's dream to share the healing power of sport with disadvantaged children around the world. In 2005, during a four-month cycling trip through Africa, Martin Parnell was struck by the power of sport and its ability to bring people together and bring about change. Five years later the 55-year-old mining engineer, husband, father and grandfather dedicated a year of his life to run 250 marathons with the aim of raising $250,000 for the charity Right To Play, an international humanitarian organization that reaches out to disadvantaged children around the world. In the end, Martin’s “Marathon Quest 250” raised $320,000 for the charity, and he personally visited 60 schools, inspiring thousands of children to get active in order to help the less fortunate at home and abroad. In Marathon Quest , Martin gives honest and often humorous insight into why an ordinary person would attempt to do something extraordinary, pushing themselves to the limit, both mentally and physically, in pursuit of their goal to make the world a better place.

192 pages, Paperback

Published November 10, 2017

About the author

In 2010, following a 25-year mining career, Martin Parnell started his "Quests for Kids" initiative. Over the next five years he completed 10 "Quests". These included running 250 marathons in one year, setting five Guinness World Records in endurance events and summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in 21 hours. At the end of 2014, he had raised over $1.3m for the humanitarian organization Right To Play and 27,000 children had been given the gift of hope.

Martin's first book "MARATHON QUEST" was published by Rocky Mountain Books and CBC Radio listed him as one of Alberta's top five authors, for 2014. His second book, “RUNNING TO THE EDGE”, was released in November 2016. The final book of The Marathon Trilogy, “THE SECRET MARATHON-Empowering women and girls in Afghanistan through sport” will be published on October 30th 2018.

Through keynotes and workshops, Martin shares his message of having a “Finish the Race Attitude – Setting goals and overcoming obstacles to unlock your potential”.

He is married to Sue, and has three children and three grandchildren.