I first heard about Finley's Touch at the We Have Ways Second World War podcast festival and have wanted to do something to help raise money for this fantastic charity ever since.

Finley's Touch was set up in 2022 by Finley's parents, Nicky and Ben. Finley was diagnosed with JMML, a very rare form of Leukaemia aged 6 years old. He battled his illness heroically enduring three gruelling stem cell transplants and countless rounds of chemotherapy, but tragically lost his life aged 8.

Finley sounds like he was an amazing young boy, laughing and dancing through his lowest points. The charity has been set up to keep his memory alive.

The money raised for the charity will go to supporting children with cancer across five different hospitals in Sussex in three main ways:

1. Each child diagnosed with cancer across the hospitals in Sussex receive a bag of essential and, importantly, fun items to help them face long admissions. The bags are also offered to children in the oncology wards at Great Ormond St, where Finley was an in-patient.

2. Families in Sussex can receive a financial grant to support and help them cope with the emotional and practical difficulties of having a child with cancer.

3. Raising awareness of childhood cancer and educating people on the early signs and symptoms.

So to my challenge...

The plan is to run 1945 miles in 2025. This averages out at 5.32 miles a day.

Why 1945 miles I hear you ask? Well, in 1945 the Second World War ended, and 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of this. As a History teacher who is endlessly fascinated by the Second World War, and because I became aware of this amazing charity through the brilliant We Have Ways festival, I thought it would be fitting to do a Second World War related challenge.

I hope to add to the challenge throughout the year by running in battledress and doing equally fun things. More to follow.

You can follow my progress on Strava (Callum Braidwood-Smith) and social media. I might even throw in the odd Second World War fact.