Volunteering with the Kokrobite Chiltern Centre in Ghana left us with three things: unforgettable memories, a huge appreciation for the work they do… and the sudden urge to put our legs through a 26-mile Roman endurance test.

The centre is packed with energy, creativity, and care, giving young people opportunities they’d struggle to find elsewhere. They support everything from classes to community projects, as well as sponsoring children to access formal education — an initiative that’s already produced their first generation of proud university graduates. Seeing that kind of real, long-term impact up close made it clear just how far a bit of extra funding can go.

So yes, we’ve swapped the Ghanaian sunshine for marathon training in preparation for Rome 2026. Every pound you donate goes straight back to the centre we were lucky enough to be part of, and helps them keep doing the incredible work that inspired this whole mad idea.