I'm excited to share with you my ambitious journey to raise funds and awareness for the Bone Cancer Research Trust, a cause very close to my heart. Over the next year, I will be participating in a series of challenging endurance events, pushing my limits to support those battling bone cancer. Your support can make a huge difference.

Sadly, we lost Dad to cancer just before Christmas. This series of events began in 2024 in honor of him and the incredible fight he put up for years, never letting it define him. Now, we’re moving into 2025, running in memory of the man, the myth, the legend that was Billy McCourt.

Thanks to your generosity, we’ve raised a staggering £4,156 so far - and we’re only halfway through the challenge! Here’s what’s coming up in 2025

2nd February - The "Grim Leodis" "Ultra":

2025 kicks off next Sunday with a 6.5 mile looping course, with the intention of doing it enough times to make a 32 mile Ultramarathon. Oh, and I'm currently recovering from Flu and struggling to run more than 5k at the moment!

15th February:

Less than two weeks later and we're getting "Besotted at Bingley" - a 32 mile Ultra-Marathon around Bingley - the town where dad met mum (Helen McCourt) and they began their journey together. Extra poetic given that it's the day after Valentines day and the day before the birthday of their favourite child (Yes that's me... Claire Mccourt Sellars, Laura Coward).

22nd March:

The penultimate event of the series is "The Ultra Loop" at Heaton Park in Manchester. This one is another set time event, the difference being a much shorter loop (5k) and a much longer time (8 bloody hours!). This will be the longest time on my feet across all the events - whether it's the longest distance will remain to be seen.

and then finally...

27th April - the London Marathon

A more than fitting conclusion to the series... taking part in one of the most iconic marathons in the world: One that dad did twice before. I’ll literally be following in his footsteps to finish this journey.

And a reminder of 2024:

July 2024: Helmsley Marathon - DONE!

Absolute torture! Hardest run I've ever done by quite a way. Tough terrain, but gorgeous scenery. But cramp kicked in at some point in the third lap (of four) and unfortunately didn't relent at all, resulting in me rather overdramatically collapsing to the ground after getting over the finish line.

August 2024: Wasdale Head Horseshoe Fell Challenge - DONE!

Made it round the Wasdale Horseshoe! 16.3 miles, 2,743m elevation and 8 mountains. Total time 9hr 44min.

Lost all visibility after about an hour, and then the heavens opened with gale force winds and heavy rain battering me for the next 7 hours, so happy that I managed to get it done at all.

Can't really call this one a fell "run" though given that I barely ran any of it! More a combination of hiking, scrambling and rock climbing with a bit of running where the terrain wasn't too tricky. The weather over the past couple of days also turned one of the trickier parts of the route into a fully fledged waterfall that I had to rock climb up! Fortunately(?) I was already soaked to the bone so didn't have to worry about getting any more wet!

October 2024: 70 Miles in 7 Days - DONE!

When I opted to do this challenge, I figured 70 miles in a week sounded like a tough but reasonable amount of miles. Then I had a look at my highest mileage weeks and realised that the most I've ever done in a week is 46 miles and that was pretty tough in itself, so quite a hurdle to get over! In the end it actually ended up being 75 miles in the end, the distance equivalent of 2.86 marathons! Tough but some great runs with brilliant people who joined me on their journeys too.

November 2024: Warrington Way 40 Mile Ultra Marathon - DONE!

This one was epic! 40 miles in 7hrs 33 minutes. Really happy with my time, but never experienced aches like after this - the usual aching in the legs, but after the 30 mile mark I felt the pain creep right the way up my back and into my shoulders and neck as well. Consolidated the footage of my inane yammering into a single video.

https://www.facebook.com/AJMcCourt/videos/1210420503396041/

These events are more than just physical challenges for me; they are a way to contribute to the fight against bone cancer. The Bone Cancer Research Trust is dedicated to improving outcomes for those affected by this devastating disease, and your support can help fund vital research and provide much-needed resources.

How You Can Help:

Donate: Any amount, big or small, will be greatly appreciated. You can donate directly on my JustGiving page.

Suggest: Alongside your donation, drop in a message suggesting other events you'd like to see me take on - the best (or the worst, or the stupidest!) ideas may make it into the 2025 list of events.

Share: Please share my story and my JustGiving page with your network. The more people we reach, the greater our impact will be.

Cheer Me On: Your words of encouragement will keep me motivated throughout this journey.

Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by bone cancer. Thank you for your support and generosity.