In October 2014, Olivia (age 15) ran the South Downs Way (100 miles) over 9 consecutive days to raise funds to help build classrooms and support the children at Maranatha School in Ghana. John, Olivia’s Grandad, organised the whole thing. With his ordinance survey maps, high viz jacket, clipboards and Barb at the wheel, he arranged start/stop off points, what mileage was covered per day, who was running with Olivia, water and mars bar suppliers & support along the whole way. At various stages along the route, Olivia was accompanied by 14 runners in total, predominantly friends and family to join her for various legs, including her Grandad.

Olivia wanted to run this again in memory of her Grandad and to raise awareness for the MND Association. Therefore, Olivia and Chris are going to be running the South Downs Way from Winchester to Eastbourne in April 2022 over 7 consecutive days, which averages at around 13.5 miles (roughly a half marathon) per day.

Olivia and Chris will be starting at the King Alfred the Great statue in Winchester on Sunday 10th April at 10am. They will be finishing on Saturday 16th April in Eastbourne (fingers crossed a celebration afterwards)