A Portsmouth scaffolder has begun an 860-mile charity run from John O’Groats to Land’s End to raise money for families affected by neuroblastoma.
Charlie Chandler, 34, started the challenge on Sunday, 10 May, and is aiming to complete the route on Sunday, 24 May.
The run will see him cover about 54 miles a day, roughly the same as 2 marathons, as he travels the length of Britain.
Chandler is raising funds for The Amelia-Mae Foundation, a children’s cancer charity set up in memory of Amelia-Mae Davies, who was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma in 2012 and died the following year.
The foundation supports children and families affected by neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that mainly affects young children. It also runs 2 holiday homes, in Rhyl and Chichester, to give families time away while dealing with illness.
Chandler is also raising money for his local amateur boxing club, which he says gives young people a safe place to train and learn discipline, confidence and life skills.
The challenge has already raised over £7,000.
Andy Bowie, deputy chair of The Amelia-Mae Foundation, has helped plan the route and is following Chandler in a motorhome during the run.
He said Chandler first became involved with the charity 5 years ago through a Three Peaks challenge and has continued fundraising since.
“He rang me last year and said, ‘I’ve got this wild idea and I don’t even know if it’s possible’,” Bowie said.
Bowie said the support team has mapped out rest points every 10 miles, where Chandler is given food and drink.
The early stages have already tested him, with blocked roads, dual carriageways, hard climbs and steep descents. One section had to be cut short because of knee pain, with the distance due to be made up later in the route.
Chandler’s mother, Victoria Giles, said she was proud of what he had taken on.
“He’s doing roughly 54 miles a day,” she said. “I spoke to him on the phone and, bless him, he’s struggling. He’s got shin splints and swollen feet but he is just carrying on.”
Chandler has previously taken on several fundraising challenges, including mountain climbs in the Himalayas, Ben Nevis and other long-distance charity events.
His latest challenge is expected to finish at Land’s End on Sunday, 24 May.
To donate visit Charlie’s Just Giving page here.
