Fundraising really doesn’t have to be this hard. Bryan Metoyer has just finished the World Marathon Challenge—an incredible achievement made even more meaningful by his goal in taking it on, which was to raise money and awareness for a cure for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a variant of FTD. The Post and Courier (South Carolina) profiled his quest shortly before it started.

For Metoyer, a Marine Corps veteran, endurance running has always been more than physical exercise. “It’s really therapy for me,” Metoyer told The Post and Courier. “I kind of get in my own space. It’s a great challenge, just pushing yourself and seeing how far you can go.”

That drive carried him through seven consecutive marathons across all seven continents between January 31 and February 6. Each day brought a new 26.2-mile challenge—from the icy expanse of Antarctica to the streets of Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza, and finally Miami.

But Metoyer wasn’t running for ribbons or medals; he was running for his father.

His Dad is His “Why”

John Metoyer introduced his son to running when Bryan was just five years old. Throughout Bryan’s childhood, his father coached him through baseball games, encouraged his entry into organized track and field, and attended every high school meet. Even as Bryan reached adulthood, the elder Metoyer remained his son’s most devoted supporter, showing up at marathons and even accompanying him on 100-mile bike rides.

About a year before the World Marathon Challenge, John Metoyer received a life-altering diagnosis. At 71, after symptoms began appearing following a 2021 heart attack, he learned he had PSP—a degenerative brain condition that affects motor skills, balance, and swallowing. There is currently no cure.

“They go through a lot of stuff,” Metoyer said, recalling watching his father struggle with falls and basic movements during Thanksgiving. “That’s my ‘why.'”

Months of Preparation

Over six months of training, Metoyer logged peak weeks of 200 miles and maintained a steady nine hours of weekly aerobic exercise through running, swimming, biking, and elliptical work. The strategy minimized injury risk while building endurance—critical when facing seven marathons in seven days.

Metoyer’s personal best marathon time is 3:10, achieved twenty years ago in the Chicago Marathon. But speed wasn’t the objective this time. Metoyer aimed to finish each race in around five hours, preserving energy and avoiding injury so he could cross the finish line the next day…and the day after that…day after day.

“I don’t want to put it all out there and have nothing left for the rest of them,” he explained before departing. Between races, he traveled via chartered plane with the other participants, carrying seven bags containing nutrition, gear, and everything needed for each continent.

While his father couldn’t travel to witness the accomplishment in person, Bryan carried John’s legacy with him across every continent—honoring the man who first taught him that when your body says no more, your mind makes the choice to keep going.

There is a packed slate of road races in 2026 for those who wish to participate on behalf of AFTD’s mission. Click the links to register or pledge a donation:

• Austin Marathon
• Los Angeles Marathon
• TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour
• Colfax Marathon
• New York City Marathon
• Philadelphia Marathon
• Honolulu Marathon
• United Airlines NYC Half Marathon
• Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Running Series
• Washington, DC St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon

Further reading:

• Read the original article in the Post Courier
• Learn about other fundraising events on the AFTD website