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250 miles.100 Hours.One more attempt.

On Wednesday 22nd April 2026 at 10am, I’ll be taking part in the Thames Ring 250 — a 250-mile non-stop ultra with a 100-hour cutoff.

This will be my third attempt.

I’ve come up short the last two times in 2024 & 2025… but I’m back to make 2026 happen!

Why I'm doing this

Running has become a huge part of my life. It keeps me focused, challenges me, and pushes me further than I ever thought possible.

It’s also given me a way to raise money for causes that genuinely matter to me and my family.

In previous years, I’ve supported Microtia UK — a charity that has been important to us since our daughter Ava was born in 2015.

This year, I’m doing things slightly differently and supporting two organisations that both play a big role in Ava’s life:

Microtia UK & Dunstable Swimming Club.

Ava absolutely loves swimming and this year I’m proud to support both — a charity that’s been there for our family since she was born and a club that plays such a big part of her week.

All donations will be split 50/50.

About the race

The Thames Ring 250 is a 250-mile trail race starting in Streatley-on-Thames and following an anti-clockwise loop along the River Thames, up the Grand Union Canal, across the Oxford Canal, and back to the start.

The route is almost entirely canal and riverside paths. Runners have 100 hours (4 days, 4 hours) to complete it, navigating using maps and GPX files, with checkpoints roughly every 25 miles.

It’s a relentless challenge — long hours, very little sleep, and constant forward movement.

I’ll be recording the run on Strava and sharing updates where I can during the race.

Live Tracking

You can track all competitors throughout the 4 days here:

https://live.opentracking.co.uk/thamesring2025/

About Ava

My daughter Ava was born with unilateral Microtia affecting her right ear, meaning she has significant hearing loss on that side.

She’s now 11 years old and has grown into a confident, determined, and kind young girl. While her Microtia is still part of her story, it doesn’t define her.

Ava is now a very keen and talented swimmer, and the older she gets, the more it’s about who she is and what she can achieve.

She sometimes wears a bone-anchored hearing aid and is under the care of Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she’ll have options in the future around treatment — whatever she chooses.

We couldn’t be prouder of her.

Microtia UK

Microtia UK supports individuals and families affected by a condition that many people have never even heard of.

When Ava was born, we had no warning, no understanding, and a lot of unknowns. Microtia UK helped us make sense of it all — quickly.

They provide support, guidance, and real reassurance to families navigating something unfamiliar and often misunderstood. They help take away that initial fear and replace it with knowledge, confidence, and a sense that you’re not alone.

That support made a huge difference to us, and it’s why continuing to raise awareness and funding for them still matters so much.

Dunstable Swimming Club

Dunstable Swimming Club has become a huge part of Ava’s life.

Swimming isn’t just a hobby — it demands discipline, consistency, and resilience. Early mornings, hard sessions, and constant effort. It teaches you to keep going, even when it’s tough.

Through the club, Ava has built confidence, developed friendships, and found something she truly loves. It’s given her structure, direction, and a real sense of belonging.

Like many local clubs, it’s volunteer-run and relies on funding to provide equipment, coaching, and opportunities for the kids to progress.

Supporting them means supporting not just Ava, but all the children who benefit from it.