The Global Marathon Challenge - Khun Vichai statue in Bangkok to Khun Vichai statue in Leicester.

We, Nick Hodges and Ian Stringer, are both ordinary runners trying to complete an extraordinary running challenge. In June 2020 we decided that we wanted to try and run 5 marathons on 5 continents in 5 consecutive days to raise money for charities we are both so passionate about. We have endured gruelling training for this for challenge for over 18 months committing to 6+ training session per week and we are now ready to take the challenge on.

Due to the ongoing Covid related restrictions around the world, we have had to make some changes to our route but we are still able to complete 5 marathons in 5 days in 5 cities across 4 continents. The challenge will start at 14.30 (UK Time) on Monday 18th April and we will have 120 hours to complete the challenge by 14.30 on Saturday 23rd April. Our five marathons will be run in:

Leg 1 Bangkok -Thailand (Asia)

Leg 2 Honolulu - Hawaii (Oceania)

Leg 3 Anchorage - Alaska (North America)

Leg 4 New York - USA (North America)

Leg 5 Leicester - UK (Europe)

We should add that all flights will be on a standard scheduled airline flying economy class (where we will also sleep for 3 of the nights - we're both over 6ft tall) - there is one opportunity to sleep in a hotel bed whilst abroad, and that's after a challenging 104.8 miles on the road ahead of leg 5. We should note that as a team (2 runners, physio Dave Orton and Coach Lewis Moses) we have planted trees to offset our carbon footprint for these flights. This challenge is carbon neutral.

Fundraising

All fundraising will be split equally between The Bodie Hodges Foundation and The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation. The costs of the Challenge have been covered by our corporate partners, Bakers Waste, E&H Drylining (SW), Industrial Marine Supplies, SV Timber, Freeths, PPL PRS and Premier Logistics. This means that your donation will go directly to helping fund those that need support

The Bodie Hodges Foundation

In April 2022 it will be 10 years since our 10 month old son unexpectedly died and our world came crashing down. Inspired by his strength, courage and determination in his final days we promised him we would do good things in his memory. The journey since then has been harder than we ever imagined but we have been true to our word and in his memory we formed The Bodie Hodges Foundation in 2012 with the aim of supporting families who have been bereaved of a child.

As the charity has grown so has the demand for our services which has led us to launching a capital appeal to raise the £450,000 needed to buy a Bereavement Centre for families bereaved of a child. Therefore, 50% of all of the money raised will go directly towards the capital appeal for the building. This will help secure our long term future and ensure that families bereaved of a child continue to receive the support they need.

The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation

In October of 2018 a helicopter disaster tragically took the life of the then Leicester City Chairman Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. The Foxes' boss brought the city the impossible dream of winning the Premier League in 2016 as part of the Thai family's significant investment in not only the club but the city we call home. He's a hero in our city.

A statue of Khun Vichai has been erected in his hometown of Bangkok and a statue of Khun Vichai is set to take position at King Power Stadium, we will run from his homeland to his much loved adopted home, and raise funds for his charity in his honour along the way.