After 15 years at Hampton, I've been awarded a sabbatical term and I'm kicking it off in style with the Cape Wrath Ultra, one of the UK’s toughest multi-stage ultra-marathons.

Spanning eight days and 400km (250 miles), this brutal race takes runners through the wild and remote Scottish Highlands, from Fort William to the very tip of mainland Britain at Cape Wrath. Competitors navigate mountains, river crossings, and rugged coastlines, covering up to 45 miles a day while carrying their own kit. With unpredictable weather and relentless terrain, it’s as much a mental battle as a physical one—on average, only 50-60% of runners complete the course, with finish rates dropping as low as 25% in some years due to harsh conditions. For me, a real adventure has to have a significant chance of failure - this race has it in spades. An amazing 1 min trailer: https://youtu.be/xnTVvaUKUv4 and more race details here: https://www.capewrathultra.com/

I'm taking on this challenge in support of Shooting Star Children's Hospices, one of Hampton School's chosen Form Charities this year. The charity provides vital care for babies, children, and young people with life-limiting conditions, as well as support for their families across Surrey and London. Whether a child’s life is measured in days, weeks, months, or years, Shooting Star ensures every moment counts, offering nursing, practical, emotional, and medical care. Every penny of sponsorship goes directly to the charity, and donations, no matter the amount, are very much appreciated.

For a bit of extra fun, you can predict my finishing time (past finishers have taken between 50 and 90 hours) in the message section of the fundraising page for a chance to win prizes donated by the Hampton Village Traders Association and Shooting Star. The five closest guesses will take home a prize! Alternatively, you can place a bet on which day I throw in the towel — I promise I won’t take offence!

From the morning of Sunday 18 May, you can follow my progress live via the GPS tracking page on the race website. I would also love to receive messages of encouragement through Ultra Mail—just click the envelope icon on the tracking page, and your message will be printed and ready for me to collect at the overnight camps.

No matter the amount, every donation makes a real difference to the children and families supported by Shooting Star and I am deeply grateful for all support—I’ll do my best to make it to Cape Wrath in one piece!