Latest news with #RettUK
BBC News
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Warwickshire man quits job to run length of UK for charity
A delivery driver has quit his job to run the length of the UK in a month for a cause close to his Ward, 24, from Warwickshire, was inspired by "Hardest Geezer", also known as Russ Cook, who ran the 8,000 km (5,000 mile) length of Africa in April Ward, who lives in Atherstone, began his journey, which is about 874 miles, on 26 February at John O'Groats in is raising money for Rett UK, after his friend's four year-old daughter, Poppy, was diagnosed with a neurological condition called Rett syndrome. It is a rare genetic disorder that affects brain development, resulting in severe mental and physical disability, and is almost exclusively seen in girls."I started running in lockdown and I kind of got the bug for it, so over the last few years I have been doing different marathons in Paris and Amsterdam," he said. "I also watched the Hardest Geezer and Ashley Cain and others who have done challenges like this and and thought, why not give it a go myself."Mr Ward has been averaging 26 miles a day, and has mainly been camping, but freshens up at hotels if donations allow that."People I've never met have been offering to pay for hotels so I can recover faster and it is so kind as they don't have to do that," he said."I just take every day as it comes - if I feel I'm okay and don't need a hotel, I'll camp, but if when I'm camping I wake up and feel I really need a shower, I'll try and go to [a hotel], as using wipes all the time really makes you appreciate having a shower."Mr Ward has been documenting his journey on TikTok and Instagram, and has raised more than £2,400 so far."I've had so many people driving past when I'm not feeling so great, beeping their horns, waving, people messaging me saying: 'When you run through here you can stay with me and we'll get you food'," he Ward hopes to finish his mammoth run at Land's End, Cornwall, on 29 March. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Delivery driver inspired by ‘Hardest Geezer' quits job to run length of UK
A delivery driver inspired by 'Hardest Geezer' Russ Cook has quit his job to run the length of the UK in a month. After leaving his job, Jack Ward, 24, packed a bag filled with essentials, including camping gear, to begin his roughly 874-mile endeavour on February 26 at John O'Groats in Caithness, Scotland. Mr Ward, 24, who lives in Atherstone, Warwickshire, has so far made tracks in places in the Scottish Highlands including Culbokie, Inverness and Dalwhinnie and said handing in his resignation was an easy decision as the challenge has a 'personal' element. His friend's four-year-old daughter Poppy has a neurological condition called Rett syndrome, which has left her with a loss of mobility in her hands and slow development. He will be raising money for the charity Rett UK, which has sent him posters and T-shirts to promote the cause. He said he was inspired after watching runner Russ Cook, more commonly known as the 'Hardest Geezer', complete his run across the length of Africa in April 2024. 'I started running in lockdown and I kind of got the bug for it so over the last few years I have been doing different marathons in Paris and Amsterdam,' Mr Ward told the PA news agency. 'I also watched the Hardest Geezer and Ashley Cain and others who have done challenges like this and and thought, why not give it a go myself.' He has been averaging roughly 26 miles a day and has mainly been camping, but does freshen up at hotels if donations allow. 'People I've never met have been offering to pay for hotels so I can recover faster and it is so kind as they don't have to do that,' he said. 'I just take every day as it comes – if I feel I'm OK and don't need a hotel, I'll camp, but if when I'm camping I wake up and feel I really need a shower, I'll try and go to (a hotel) as using wipes all the time really makes you appreciate having a shower.' Mr Ward has been providing daily updates on his journey on TikTok and Instagram, under the handle jackdoesrunning, showing his followers the highs and lows, from dealing with wind and rain while camping to tucking into scrambled eggs and jam on toast to fuel him. He says he has been inundated with generosity and encouragement, in person and online. Some of his standout moments include seeing Caledonian Stadium in Inverness and meeting passers-by who have taken an interest in his adventure. 'I've had so many people driving past when I'm not feeling so great, beeping their horns, waving, people messaging me saying when you run though here you can stay with me and we'll get you food,' he said. 'Someone pulled up on the side of the road as he had been looking for me as he took some drone shots. 'It doesn't feel real – so much is happening on my phone and I can't believe how much support I've got already.' He said he hopes weather conditions improve as he makes his way through England and he aims to finish at Land's End, Cornwall, on March 29 to celebrate with his loved ones.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Delivery driver inspired by ‘Hardest Geezer' quits job to run length of UK
A delivery driver inspired by 'Hardest Geezer' Russ Cook has quit his job to run the length of the UK in a month. After leaving his job, Jack Ward, 24, packed a bag filled with essentials, including camping gear, to begin his roughly 874-mile endeavour on February 26 at John O'Groats in Caithness, Scotland. Mr Ward, 24, who lives in Atherstone, Warwickshire, has so far made tracks in places in the Scottish Highlands including Culbokie, Inverness and Dalwhinnie and said handing in his resignation was an easy decision as the challenge has a 'personal' element. View this post on Instagram A post shared by JackDoesRunning (@jackdoesrunning) His friend's four-year-old daughter Poppy has a neurological condition called Rett syndrome, which has left her with a loss of mobility in her hands and slow development. He will be raising money for the charity Rett UK, which has sent him posters and T-shirts to promote the cause. He said he was inspired after watching runner Russ Cook, more commonly known as the 'Hardest Geezer', complete his run across the length of Africa in April 2024. 'I started running in lockdown and I kind of got the bug for it so over the last few years I have been doing different marathons in Paris and Amsterdam,' Mr Ward told the PA news agency. 'I also watched the Hardest Geezer and Ashley Cain and others who have done challenges like this and and thought, why not give it a go myself.' He has been averaging roughly 26 miles a day and has mainly been camping, but does freshen up at hotels if donations allow. 'People I've never met have been offering to pay for hotels so I can recover faster and it is so kind as they don't have to do that,' he said. 'I just take every day as it comes – if I feel I'm OK and don't need a hotel, I'll camp, but if when I'm camping I wake up and feel I really need a shower, I'll try and go to (a hotel) as using wipes all the time really makes you appreciate having a shower.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by JackDoesRunning (@jackdoesrunning) Mr Ward has been providing daily updates on his journey on TikTok and Instagram, under the handle jackdoesrunning, showing his followers the highs and lows, from dealing with wind and rain while camping to tucking into scrambled eggs and jam on toast to fuel him. He says he has been inundated with generosity and encouragement, in person and online. Some of his standout moments include seeing Caledonian Stadium in Inverness and meeting passers-by who have taken an interest in his adventure. 'I've had so many people driving past when I'm not feeling so great, beeping their horns, waving, people messaging me saying when you run though here you can stay with me and we'll get you food,' he said. 'Someone pulled up on the side of the road as he had been looking for me as he took some drone shots. 'It doesn't feel real – so much is happening on my phone and I can't believe how much support I've got already.' He said he hopes weather conditions improve as he makes his way through England and he aims to finish at Land's End, Cornwall, on March 29 to celebrate with his loved ones. Mr Ward's fundraising page can be accessed here:
