Father of two, Ash Wallace, set himself the epic task of running four international marathons in the space of just six weeks, these include: London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York (25th Sept to 6th November). Ash completed the London 10k on the 10th of July and will also be taking part in the Great North Run, London Half Marathon, and the Bradford 10k run, starting from September 4th, 2022, in preparation for his big runs. Ash’s determination to complete this mammoth challenge has been driven by his commitment to supporting international humanitarian charity, Penny Appeal, and their campaign to help rebuild homes for refugees. Despite the current extreme heat, Ash has continued running every day, bravely facing the exhaustion and muscle cramps.
Every penny he raises through this incredible feat will go towards supporting people in crisis, helping them rebuild their lives. This includes people fleeing war and conflict, victims of natural disaster, and displaced people and refugees across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, as well as here at home in the UK.
Ash aims to raise enough money to build several homes for those most in need. To date, he has raised over £20,000 for Penny Appeal by taking part in various challenges. After signing up for the Bradford 10k in 2015 – his hometown – he began to run more and more frequently, challenging himself to run marathons and channelling his efforts into fundraising for this significant cause. What started off as a weight loss journey soon turned into a thirst for challenge, fuelled by his determination to support people in need.
During Covid, Ash’s dreams of running in the Berlin Marathon as well the London Marathon were put on hold, but he decided to come back with an even bigger challenge by running four major marathons to help raise money for charity, all during a 6-week window. He was just a regular dad who took up running to lose weight but turned his personal health challenge into a drive to help others around the world.
Ash Wallace says: “One of the reasons I lost the weight was to make sure when my kids have kids that I’m still around. I’ve just been running three times a week; it gives me peace and allows me to spend time on my own. It also really helps me clear my mind and think about many things in life, including making the world a better place for others. I now find, if I don’t run that I’m disappointed in myself, it has become a bit of an addiction, one which can make a difference to me and others.”
