When The Ben Saunders Foundation (BSF) asked me to become an ambassador for them I was honoured.

The charity was started to raise funds to support Children and Young adults with cancer within the UK. The founder 'Ben Saunders' was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer sarcoma attached to his heart which was diagnosed in October 2019. It spread into his lungs which meant he faced many challenges along the way. These include two major open-heart surgeries and 6 rounds of very intense chemotherapy. These are just some of the things he experienced along his cancer journey and his wish was to help and offer whatever he could, alongside his family and the foundation, to offer support to young people with cancer. Ben felt privileged to have been fortunate enough throughout his journey to have received the support he did, whether that being mentally, physically, or a short holiday with friends to Centre Parcs. 

Ben said 'I feel everyone in these circumstances deserves to be given as much support and happiness as possible.'

Ben set up the Foundation shortly before he passed away in August 2020 - since then the charity has helped over 300 cancer-affected families, create forever lasting memories, whilst staying at the lodges that the foundation has been able to purchase.

As many of you know from my previous challenge Ben's dad Tom is a friend of mine from when we played football together as kids. 

As an ambassador, my role is to help the charity raise awareness of it and hopefully some extra funds along the way. 

In 2022 I ran further than I had ever run previously. My longest run prior to these events was 30 miles which was the last day of last years 'The Beast' challenge - 2022 included a 43 mile run and a 100km run, and 2023 had the Tenerife ultra!!

What are my new challenges for 2024?
 
1. The Welsh 3 Peaks - May 18th. Complete all 3 peaks in 24 hours. Snowdon in north Wales, Cadair Idris in Mid-Wales, and Pen y Fan in south Wales.

2. The Bath Two Tunnels Ultra Marathon - August 18th - 55km running through old railway and M.O.D tunnels.

3. Nice UTMB 55km Ultra Marathon - Oct 4th 2024.

4. Hyrox London - Cross fit endurance challenge - May 4th

5. Hyrox Birmingham - Cross fit endurance challenge - Oct 26th


These are some of my previous challenges completed for the BSF, of differing distances:

1. Brecon to Cardiff Ultra Marathon - 70km on 20th Feb 2022 (Completed in 9 hours).
2. Rome Marathon - 27th March 2022 (Completed in 3hrs 30mins 52 secs)
3. Bath Half Marathon - Completed in 1hr 32 mins.
4. Mont Blanc 4-day trek - 7 to 9 hours trekking per day for 4-days. Completed. Sept 2023
5. Race to the Stones Ultra Marathon - 102km (1 day) 9th July 2022 (completed in 14 hours!)
6. Tenerife Bluetrail Ultra - 105km with a full ascent of Mount Teide. June 10th 2023 (completed in 20hrs