I am raising money for hospice care, in memory of my sister, Anita.

On her 49th birthday, Anita got the devasting news she had brain cancer.

Anita spent her final weeks in the Prince of Wales Hospice, surrounded by love and not fear.

I was there every day and got to see up close what they do.

I was totally blown away by the amazing people at the hospice and the level of care and support they provided for Anita.

I did not realise how much they relied on local funding to survive.

I vowed to help where I could. Since then, I’ve dedicated my time raising funds by training for and taking on increasingly difficult endurance challenges.

Last year my wife, Rachael, joined me and started doing the same!

2025 Challenges

March - Rachael ran her first 50 mile race, the Chester 50 by GBUltras on 15th March. I ran with her.

April - I attempted the Chester 100 mile race again but after a bad fall I had to retire at 77 miles. I have booked for next year!

May - Pennine Barrier 50 miles race : unfortunately missed this due to illness

7th June - first attempt at a Backyard Ultra : I managed to run for 12 hours (50 miles)

Note: this was my final fundraising run, or should I say a run where I pester people constantly for donations!

We will find other ways to support the Prince of Wales Hospice!

Thank you

A massive thanks to everyone who has donated during this 4 year journey.

The support has been incredible, the level of kindness and encouragement is way beyond what we expected.

This has kept us motivated to keep doing what we do.

I would rather fail trying than not try at all.

Look after your mind and body and keep smiling folks 😊

Kindest regards

Simon "arfapanc" Speight

ps. where does this "ArfaPanc" name come from? That's what my kids nicknamed me after losing over half my pancreas due to pancreatitis. So yes, my challenges are extra challenging because of this. However, I still get to do it, so I'm one of the lucky ones, and this is how I show my gratitude. Life life to the full and make the most of what you have!!

You can continue to follow my progress on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/simon_arfapanc_speight/

This is our journey....

2021

Shortly after Anita passed away I decided on my first fundraising challenge...

May 2021 – 10x10x10 : run 10k every day for 10 days 👍

The response was unbelievable, I raised almost £2000. It was at that point I thought this is what I was meant to do, this was my calling. It changed me profoundly!

Aug 2021 – Pontefract 10k 👍

Sep 2021 – Great North Run 👎

I trained like mad for this one, I was probably the fittest I had ever been in my whole life.

Unfortunately, a few days before the race I was rushed into hospital.

I was critically ill with Pancreatitis, pneumonia and other life threatening conditions.

I ended up losing half my pancreas, I now have Type 3c Diabetes (like type 1) and other medical conditions to cope with.

The doctors told me that the fitness from all my running saved my life!! That changed my outlook on life in a way that I cannot describe to you.

Dec 2021 - returned home from hospital

I had to start all over again with my fitness. I could hardly walk let alone run ☹

2022

I spent the first 4 months recovering. I had lost 4 stone and so much muscle mass.

Mar 2022 - returned to work

Apr 2022 - started "jeffing" (run/walk/run method), combined with light gym/strength work

May 2022 – Pontefract 10k (jeffed) 👍

Jun 2022 – Doncaster Half Marathon (jeffed) 👍

July 2022 – Yorkshire 3 Peaks (walk) : hospice event 👍

Sep 2022 – Great North Run : unfinished business!! 👍🏆

I still regard the GNR in 2022 as my greatest achievement.

I then continued to train like mad and achieved something that I thought was impossible and was never going to happen after what happened to me....

Nov 2022 – First Marathon 26.2 miles 👍💥

2023

I had seriously got the running bug now!

There's a big problem when you run for charity.

The next one has to be a bigger challenge than the previous!

Why would people donate if not?

Mar 2023 – First Ultra Marathon (50km / 31 miles)

May 2023 – Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon (Rachael's first marathon)

Aug 2023 – 12 Hour Endurance event (ran 78km/48 miles, 187 laps around a running track)

Time for a little break and work out how I can up my game!!

2024

This is when my wife, Rachael, joined in. We now call her Ultra Rach 😆

We decided on 12 challenges in 12 months, with at least one massive challenge for me.

We managed to complete 12 challenges, totalling over 400 miles!

The massive challenge - I decided to run 100 miles!!

The furthest I had run was 48 miles so this was a big jump. I had 4 months to get ready for it. I'm proud to say I completed the Chester 100 mile ultra marathon in April. It took me 31 hours, including running through the night (first time I'd done that). Rachael and my daughter Megan were my support crew. We loved it that much we booked again for 2025!

The full list of the 12 in 12....

1. Sherwood Pines ultra

2. Heaton Park ultra

3. Chester 100 mile ultra

4. Rob Burrow Leeds marathon

5. 12 Hour Track Event

6. Manvers Dusk til' Dawn

7. Anglesey Cybi Coastal marathon

8. Great North Run

9. Round Ripon ultra

10. Durham Remembrance marathon

11. Doncaster 10k PB attempt *

12. Peterborough, Bauble Bimble *

* replacement races due to an injury and storm Ashley!

and then we started 2025 !

THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED US xx