A HUSBAND and wife from Wellington have completed the equivalent of 20 marathons on board the cruise ship Borealis as it travels ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ in a bid to raise £10,000 for lifeboat charity the RNLI.

Following as closely as possible in the footsteps of fictional explorer Phileas Fogg, Borealis set sail at the end of February, with Stephen and Claire Ward among the guests due to join.

However, Stephen found at the last moment he was unable to join the cruise, so the couple decided to continue their feat by completing the equivalent of 10 marathons each.

Claire has been tallying up her miles on board, while husband Stephen was completing his ashore, including by running the Brighton Marathon earlier this month.

The pair have already completed 22 marathons between them, and plan to continue to see how many they can accomplish in total.

Speaking during the Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines cruise, Claire said: “I am really enjoying the cruise. It is not quite the same without Stephen being here, but I have made some great friends and it is not as daunting as I thought it would be.

“Egypt and India have lived up to my expectations if not exceeded them, the shore tours and guides have been fantastic.

“I decided to continue with the 10-marathon challenge in Stephen's absence.

Stephen and Claire Ward, of Wellington, on a cruise stopover in India
Stephen and Claire Ward, of Wellington, on a cruise stopover in India. (Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines)

“The cause is equally important to both of us, having lost a good friend of ours 15 months ago who supported RNLI and had cause to call on their help in the past.

“I felt it was good to try and complete the challenge on my own as it then set a personal challenge to me to keep fit and healthy.

“There is so much lovely food available on board that it is good to have a reason to get a few laps in of the promenade deck.

“Meeting new people, seeing new sights, eating lovely food, and giving something back to a worthwhile charity is a perfect combination for a fabulous holiday.”

To help the couple’s fund-raising, Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines challenged other guests and crew aboard Borealis to see if they could travel the 30,828 miles of their cruise by walking, running, cycling, swimming, or any other means before the end of the cruise in May.

Guests have been completing sponsored laps of the deck and can log any miles walked ashore as they explore, while crew have been completing sponsored relay races in the pool, and have so far travelled 15,659 miles.

As a united team effort, Stephen, Claire, guests, and crew have so far raised £5,055 for the RNLI with more than three weeks still to go before Borealis arrives back in Southampton on May 13.

Borealis entertainment manager Sammie Firbanks, who has been orchestrating the onboard challenge, said: “The atmosphere has been fantastic.

“Guests and crew have thrown themselves into the challenge to see if we can beat Borealis around the world, and we have had great fun along the way.

“It has been a great way for us to support Claire and Stephen with the personal challenge, while raising funds and awareness for the RNLI, with whom we have a relationship spanning more than 50 years.”

Borealis cruise ship Stephen and Claire Ward Wellington RNLI fund-raising marathons
Guests and crew who have been taking part in sponsored laps of Borealis. (Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines)

RNLI fund-raising director Jayne George said: “The commitment of RNLI supporters never ceases to amaze me, and Stephen, Claire, and the other guests on board the Borealis have taken it to a new level.

“Stephen and Claire’s challenge to complete the equivalent of 10 marathons each, and the guests’ target of 30,000 miles, are truly astonishing feats.

“Fund-raisers like these are the lifeblood of the RNLI, the money they raise powers our rescues on beaches and from lifeboat stations.”

To date, Borealis has taken guests to Europe, Egypt, India, Singapore, Japan, and Hawaii as they complete miles toward the challenge.

Destinations still to follow include Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, and the Caribbean.

Stephen was able to fly to India in March to join Claire for five nights, with plans afoot to join Borealis again in late April to allow them to continue their challenge together.

For more information on Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines visit www.fredolsencruises.com or to make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/page/fred-olsen-borealis-around-the-world-challenge.