For 24 hours on Friday and Saturday Stephen Ray Stafford ran on a treadmill at Fayetteville Athletic Club, raising money for a charity known as Christopher's House, which helps homeless families transition into new houses. We had a chance to interview him on his quest:
Q: Stephen ,what has been the most challenging part of this whole experience?
A: I think just trying to stay on the treadmill as long as I can. I think for me I had a goal in my head for a certain mileage and to know I won't get there is hard for me. I want to raise as much money as I can for the Christopher house and knowing we have pledges come in for the amount of miles I complete its a success no matter if I didn't get to the final mileage I had in my head.
Q: Throughout this whole thing people have been able to volunteer on this treadmill in 20 minute intervals how does it feel to have those people support you?
A: It's incredible. It was midnight and we would have ten,15 people up here just running around. Kids were here bringing banners and stuff and to hear all the support from people I didn't even know who stopped by because they heard about it on social media or the news dropping money in and donating to the cause. I think the word of Christopher's house has gotten out and if you didn't know about it before yesterday you know about it now.
Q: You have competed in ultraman competitions and other strength and conditioning competitions. How does this compare to those?
A: It's the hardest thing I've ever done. I've never had an emotional roller coaster like I did here I couldn't control my emotions.
Q: What's it going to feel like to know you accomplished your goal and raised money for Christopher's house?
A: It will be great. I think it will hit me later on. I think I am so focused on getting balanced nutrition-wise and go to bed but I think come tomorrow when I'm rested a little more I think it will take a little while to actually realize the impact and kind of what actually occurring in the last 24 hours.