AN ultra-runner is taking on a unique challenge in a bid to raise money for a local charity.
Luke Bellingham will look to become the first person to run from the northernmost point of Europe to London in just 73 days.
Setting off from Nordkapp in Norway on 10th August, Luke will run 2,722 miles in a bid to raise £10,000 for Kids’ Village.
The charity is aiming to build the UK’s first dedicated respite holiday village for critically ill children and their families at Wychnor.
Starting inside the Arctic Circle, Luke’s journey will take him through nine countries, including Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and France.
Facing unpredictable weather, challenging terrain, and the demands of consecutive daily mileage, he will rely on careful recovery, nutrition and specialised kit to see him through.
Luke, who works at Alpha Running in Lichfield, said analysing running styles and advising customers on their own journeys has deepened his passion for the sport and inspired him to take on greater challenges.
He said:
“When I was at university, I used to think back to how I loved running in primary and secondary school, but I’d fallen out of love with it.
“In my first year, I partied a lot, but in my second year I wanted to try something different. I challenged myself to 100 days without drinking at 22-years-old – not the most usual thing to do at university.
“I found I had so much more energy. I hadn’t run in a long time, so I bought some new shoes and started again. At first, I struggled to even do 5km, but I kept pushing myself and I ended up running my first half marathon in October 2023 and it simply spiralled from there.
“It hasn’t been the longest running journey, but it’s certainly been a transformative one.”
Luke went on to complete his first ultramarathon last year in aid of Kids’ Village as part of the One More Lap event.
Despite it being a team run, he decided to take it on alone, covering 73km – 55 laps of Stowe Pool – in a day.
Luke said:
“After completing my first ultramarathon in aid of Kids’ Village and truly understanding their mission, I’ve been more motivated than ever to push my limits.
“This is my opportunity to attempt something truly unique while raising awareness for children and families who need it most.”
Kids’ Village is the brainchild of Lichfield-born founder Sam Fletcher-Goodwin, who visited a similar facility in the USA when she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer more than 20 years ago.
Since then, it has been her dream to create a similar destination for critically ill children in the UK – and she has now embarked on a plan to raise £5million to make it a reality.
Sam said:
“When I first imagined Kids’ Village, I hoped it would one day inspire people to believe in something bigger than themselves – a place where families could find peace, joy, and connection during the hardest times.
“Seeing Luke take on this incredible challenge shows just how powerful that vision can be. He’s not just running for a cause – he’s running for every child and family who needs a break, a smile, and a moment of hope.”
For the past six months, Luke has committed himself to an intense training programme to prepare for his extraordinary challenge.
He said:
“I’m genuinely so excited to get started now. The encouragement from my family, friends, colleagues and the wider running community has been amazing – I’m really grateful for every message, offer of help and bit of advice.
“The backing keeps me going on the tough days and reminds me why I’m doing this. I am determined to see this challenge through to the end, not just for myself, but for all the families Kids’ Village will help in the future.”
Luke is aiming to finish his challenge in central London in October.
People can follow Luke’s journey on Instagram and donate to Kids’ Village via his fundraising page.
