I’m running this challenge in memory of my dad, who died suddenly last year.

Dad was someone who loved adventure, and the sea, and that passion led him to become a volunteer with the BDMLR Large Whale Disentanglement Team (LWD Team). This small, highly specialised group operates across the UK, responding when whales and dolphins become dangerously entangled in ropes, nets, and other marine debris. The rescues are complex, dynamic, and often dangerous, requiring months of training and high levels of teamwork to ensure both human and animal safety.

Dad had been a member of the team for several years and was endlessly proud of the work they put in. He was always excited (& often impatient) at the thought of being called out to rescue a whale, and in the three months before he passed away, that finally happened. He was part of, not just one, but two successful whale rescues, something that meant the world to him. So much so that he even got a whale tattooed on his shoulder (which came as quite a surprise to all of us!).

On 18th April, I’ll be running the GB Chester 100 Mile Ultramarathon, and I'll be raising funds for the LWD Team in his honour. Every donation will go directly towards supporting their vital work; helping to cover essential equipment, training and logistical costs, so they can continue saving these incredible animals.

Thank you so much for supporting, and for helping me honour my dad and the cause he was so passionate for! We were lucky enough for the team to put on a display for us last summer, to show how they perform these rescues, and all that goes into it. So, I can appreciate first-hand how far the money will go!

If you look carefully at the cover photo, you will see an action shot of dad saving his first whale (on the left with the orange helmet, saying "ED")!

💙🐋