This Easter 2026, my friend Edward and I will be taking on Hadrian’s Wall, which is 127 km/79 miles (the equivalent of three marathons back-to-back), in one continuous push.

We’ll be running, walking, hiking, hobbling, and probably even crawling our way across the country . We will start before sunrise on day one and (with luck!) finish before sunset on day two.

Our goal is to push our physical limits and raise awareness and support for Hope English School, a Sheffield-based charity that helps refugees, asylum seekers, and vulnerable adults gain the language and digital skills they need to rebuild their lives in the UK.

I’ve always been drawn to testing myself and this feels like the right kind of challenge for a cause that means a lot to me.

I’ve volunteered with Hope for several years as “the IT guy,” helping with their tech and infrastructure behind the scenes. In that time, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact they have, from helping new arrivals navigate life in the UK to giving people the confidence to communicate, work, and connect with their community.

When you can’t speak the language, even simple things such as a doctor’s visit, a parent-teacher meeting, or a bus journey can feel isolating.

Hope helps to break that isolation.

Through small, supportive English classes and digital inclusion projects, they give people the tools to participate, belong, and thrive.

Originally, I looked into the Hadrian’s Wall route to see if I could push my grandmother along it in an off-road wheelchair, a walk we’d dreamed of doing as a family. The terrain (and countless stiles!) made that dream a bit unrealistic, but the idea stuck.

There’s something poetic about following an ancient frontier: a line that once divided people, now repurposed as a path for connection and endurance.

It’s the perfect distance, long enough to test every fibre of willpower, yet achievable with planning, grit, and (hopefully) without permanent damage.

Right now, I’m recovering from recent surgery. Once I’m cleared to train again, I’ll be building up slowly, starting with Parkruns and working towards longer runs and full marathons.

Edward and I live in different areas, so most of our training will be “in spirit,” but I somehow managed to find someone as mad as me to take this on. We’ll keep each other accountable and probably share plenty of moaning along the way.

It’s a big ask from zero fitness to peak condition in a short time. But I’m determined (and possibly stubborn) enough to make it happen.

Hope English School was founded in 2016 to respond to the challenges refugees and asylum seekers face, from long waiting lists to language barriers and lack of funding. Since then, they’ve grown to include Digital Skills training, helping those often left behind in an increasingly online world.

Every pound raised will help Hope continue their vital work:

providing classes, resources, and the confidence that comes from communication.

Your donation could make a real difference:

£60 = sponsor a student for one term

£80 = cover student bus fares for a week

£720 = fund a class for 12 weeks

Every donation, no matter big or small, helps Hope continue transforming lives through learning.

Thank you for believing in this mission and helping us make it real.

If you’d like to support us, please donate or share this page.

Connor & Edd

(The ludicrously overconfident duo attempting Hadrian’s Wall in one go)