On the 31st December 2025 I’ll be taking on a challenging 28 km trail run from Porlock Weir to Lynmouth to raise money for the RNLI. Rather than taking the most direct line, I’ll be running into the heart of Porlock village first, before turning up through Hawkcombe to climb all the way to Hawkcombe Head, a 1000 feet steep ascent.

From there, the route crosses remote moorland above Culbone and Oare, drops into the Doone Valley at Malmsmead, continues to Brendon, then follows the twisting, rocky riverside path through the beautiful but technical Watersmeet Gorge before descending into Lynmouth. It’s a demanding route with steep climbs, slippery woodland trails, exposed moorland and narrow river-path sections…..all of it wild, rugged and very Exmoor.

With over 2,000 feet of elevation gain packed into the route, it's going to be a proper test of the legs.

My friends and crew mates from Burnham on Sea Gig Rowing Club spend many hours on the water and I’m undertaking this challenge in honour of the RNLI, who have our backs and whose volunteer crews head out in all weathers including storms to save lives at sea. My inspiration comes from one of the greatest rescue efforts in RNLI history: the Lynmouth–Porlock lifeboat haul of January 1899.

When hurricane-force winds made a launch from Lynmouth impossible, the crew, along with dozens of local helpers and a team of 18 horses hauled the 34-foot lifeboat over the spine of Exmoor, dragging it more than 13 miles through the night, climbing over 1,500 feet in brutal winter conditions, before launching from Porlock Weir to assist the stricken “Forrest Hall.” Their determination and courage were extraordinary.

My run is tiny compared to what they did, but it’s my way of paying tribute and supporting the RNLI’s life-saving work.

I wanted to do something that connected me with this landscape which I have very fond memories of as a child and with the history of the RNLI in a meaningful way. The Lynmouth–Porlock lifeboat haul is one of the most extraordinary acts of determination and courage in RNLI history. My run is a tribute to that spirit and a chance to raise funds for the charity that still saves lives today.

If you’d like to support my fundraising efforts, it would mean a huge amount. Every donation helps keep the RNLI’s volunteer crews ready to respond when they’re needed most providing 24-hour search and rescue right around the UK and Ireland. The lifeguards keeping watch on 240 of the busiest beaches in the UK and Channel Islands.

Thank you.