The Nelk Boys are not known for endurance sports. This week, they completed one of the hardest events in running.
Kyle Forgeard, a co-founder of the Canadian YouTube group, and several members of the Nelk Boys finished a 100-mile ultramarathon from near Rachel, Nev., to Las Vegas, raising more than $332,000 for the HunterSeven Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on cancer prevention and early detection for U.S. military veterans.
The run began on Jan. 21 and ended the following day in the parking lot of the Red Rock Casino & Spa, west of the Las Vegas Strip. The group covered the full distance in just over 25 hours.
A First Attempt at 100 Miles
An ultramarathon is any race longer than the standard 26.2-mile marathon. The 100-mile distance is widely considered a major threshold in the sport, even for experienced runners. Sleep deprivation, extended time on feet, and repeated fueling and medical checks are part of the equation.
For Forgeard and the Nelk Boys, this was their first attempt at the distance.
They were joined by Andy Glaze and Matthew Johnson, two ultrarunners with previous 100-mile experience who helped pace sections of the route and manage logistics. Glaze, a firefighter, has completed races including the Cocodona 250, Leadville 100, and UTMB Mont-Blanc.
Johnson, 30, holds the record for the fastest run across the Texas 1000, a route stretching from the northern to southern border of the state.
The group ran through the night, supported by vans carrying food, water, and medical staff. At one point, the livestream showed police stopping the crew along the highway. The runners continued after a brief delay.
With about 17 miles remaining, Forgeard entered the support van to be evaluated by medical personnel, a routine step in many ultramarathons, before returning to the course.
Livestreamed From Start to Finish
The entire run was broadcast live on the Kick streaming platform, where viewers were able to donate in real time. By the time the runners reached Las Vegas, donations had passed $330,000.
A large share came from the rapper Drake, who donated $150,000 during the stream under the alias “ICEMAN,” a reference to his upcoming album. Along with the donation, he wrote, “Love you boys big 6’ers keep rolling,” a nod to the group’s Greater Toronto Area roots.
Final fundraising totals were listed at $332,082.98.
The funds will go to the HunterSeven Foundation, which works with veterans exposed to cancer risks linked to military service.
A Growing Crossover Between Media and Endurance Sports
Celebrity and influencer participation in long-distance events has become more common in recent years, but attempts at 100-mile runs remain rare, particularly for first-timers. Finishing requires sustained pacing, frequent nutrition, and the ability to keep moving when fatigue sets in.
Ultrarunners often refer to the lowest moments of long races as the “pain cave,” a term popularized by Courtney Dauwalter, one of the sport’s most accomplished athletes. Every runner reaches it, she has said. The difference is whether they keep going.
On Thursday, the Nelk Boys did.
They crossed the finish line together, spraying champagne with their pacers and support crew nearby. For a group built on internet spectacle, the achievement was quieter than their usual content. It was also harder to fake.
For the endurance community, it was another sign that ultrarunning, once a fringe pursuit, is pulling in audiences far beyond the sport’s traditional base.
