MICHAEL Fafera and his friend Connor Clennan might be totally exhausted at the end of the gruelling 132 mile run over two days raising funds for The Epilepsy Society in memory of his daughter Emmie, but they’re ‘elated, even ecstatic’ at having raised over £17,000 for the charity.

As previously reported by the Press, Fafera and Clennan had made the decision to incredibly run 132 miles to raise money for the charity The Epilepsy Society, in memory of Fafera's late daughter Emmie.

"We’d been preparing for seven months to run over two hundred kilometres, the equivalent of over five marathons," explained Fafera.

"It was the biggest physical and mental challenge I’m likely ever to face.

"The whole thing was a rollercoaster as we completed 130 kilometres on the first day over 23 hours and then 82 on the second after sleeping just a few hours.

"When the challenge became extremely demanding I had a handful of friends on standby who joined us last minute to make it to the finish line and I can’t thank those friends enough.

"Thanks also to those who helped organise and who joined often at the last minute.

"Those who donated so generously is what got me through. The people who made the finish line special. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much."

"The aim was to raise £ 13 200 by running 132 miles on the thirteenth of the second month when Emmie would have turned ten.

"Our daughter was born with severe epilepsy and a missing gene which meant that she was unable to walk or speak and spent her life in a wheelchair.

Michael Fafera and his wife, Jessica, stand with their late daughter Emmie. (Image: Submitted) "However, my wife Jessica like me remembers a daughter who was always smiling and laughing and our greatest inspiration.

"Emmie couldn’t speak but she taught me never to give up and during the run I focussed on being as strong as Emmie had been."

Deborah Bourne, Director of Fundraising & Marketing at The Epilepsy Society added: "Huge congratulations to Michael for completing such a gruelling challenge in memory of his daughter Emmie.

"We’re grateful to our amazing supporters who give so much to raise both funds and awareness for such a complex condition that affects one in a hundred people.

"The money Michael’s raised will help us continue pioneering research into understanding what causes epilepsy and how best to treat it."

The Epilepsy Society is the UK’s only charity transforming the lives of people with epilepsy through world-leading research, advocacy and care.

Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological condition and affects around 1% of the UK’s population.

The Society’s Buckinghamshire headquarters are a world class centre for medical research into the condition and house the only MRI scanner in the UK dedicated solely to epilepsy.

It also operates a globally unique NHS epilepsy assessment facility providing individual assessment and rehabilitation training along with personalised residential care for around a hundred with severe epilepsy.

Professional boxer Fafera owns the Motoplex car dealership on Wigginton Road.

He hasn’t ruled out a return to the ring, saying: "To get one more win under my belt in memory of Emmie.

"She was the happiest little girl despite the card she was dealt.

"Emmie was a true soldier and always found reasons to smile and laugh rather than be sad.

"I learnt so much from her and she made me into a better person.

"We will always love her and miss her more than words can describe."

Michael Fafera and Thomas Reynard, who joined the challenge, documented their progress of their 132 mile run. (Image: Submitted)