My Story

I run Ultra marathons for fun. On January 11th 2026 I will be taking on a race billed as the UK's most brutal ultra race. It is called the 'Spine Race' and follows the 268 miles of the Pennine Way from Edale in Derbyshire to the Scottish boarder town of Kirk Yetholm.

The competitors get seven days (168 hours) to complete the journey. There are five main aid stations along the route approximately 45 miles apart. This is a selfsupported, self navigation event with no support crews or outside aid allowed. Only the facilities available to all competitors along the route are allowed to be used.

As the race takes place in the middle of January there are fourteen hours of darkness every day, which means a lot of mileage is covered on a head torch. This combined with the prevailing winter weather conditions, state of the underfoot terrain and sleep deprivation make this race live up to its reputation and title.

I have been supporting Freetobekids for the past five years by annually undertaking a big personal running challage and raising sponship money around the chosen race. In 2026 this will be the hardest and longest challange that I have taken on, my Everest if you like. As a sixty eight year old, if I can complete the route in the time allowed, I will be the oldest ever to complete the race. 

I pick FreeToBeKids as my charity of choice for a number of reasons.

1) FreeToBeKids improve the lives of children from inner city London by getting them out into the countryside and in touch with nature. Many of these children are exposed to violence, bullying, drug culture and have traumatic experiences that no child should have to be exposed to 

2) FreeToBeKids are very small charity, employing less than ten staff, and as such not benefit from the incomes of the large charities. They also rely on a voluntary help list of over three hundred and fifty lovely people. As a result they also do not have the wasteful overheads thus ensuring all of the funds raised are put into the children getting a greater chance of exposure to happiness 

3) I believe in the mental healing power of nature and how contact with it makes us more fulfilled people. Children undertaking outdoor activities together developed new bonds, confidence and inner resilience 

4) I am heading towards seven decades of a healthy outdoor life enjoyed through sport. As such I feel very privileged to be able to continue to take on these sporting challenges. I am 'old' and should give what I can back to the new generations in a way that gives them a better chance in today's society 

If you are able to please support these children by sponsoring me and supporting my efforts.

Many many thanks,

Kev