Convicted drug-dealer Pat Scanlan is hoping to get temporary release from the Department of Justice next month to run a double-marathon to raise money for four children's charities.
Scanlan (45) is serving a seven-year jail sentence in Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, after being jailed for possession of a €1.3 million consignment of cannabis resin.
Three years ago he raised more than €10,000 for the Chernobyl Children's Project when he completed a full marathon in the exercise yard of Limerick Prison.
He now hopes to complete a double-marathon by running 52 miles from Ballybunion to Limerick on December 17th.
The former restaurateur from Loughill, Co Limerick, lost his business through addiction to drugs and gambling and says he made "the biggest mistake of his life" when he agreed to get involved in a drugs run.
If his application for temporary release is refused, he still intends to complete his double-marathon by running more than 300 laps of the yard at Mountjoy's training unit.
Speaking in Mountjoy yesterday, Scanlan said his training for the run was going according to plan.
"Please God when I'm out of prison, I hope to do some work fundraising and also helping other people through a variety of humanitarian aid efforts."
Following his last marathon fundraising effort for charity in 2002 he received support from one of Britain's most famous inmates, Lord Archer, who sent a letter and a cheque for £500 which went to an orphanage in Kletsk, Belarus, under the auspices of the Chernobyl Children's Project.