YouTuber Charley’s ready to run the length of Britain in aid of war veterans
Charley Halford, also known as ‘Halfordsucks’, is gearing up for an incredible challenge as he prepares to undertake a solo 928-mile run from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
He is raising money for Armed Forces charity, Walking With The Wounded and will start his challenge on May 1 and aims to complete it by June 1. The aim is to collect at least £20,000.
Walking With The Wounded is a leading UK military charity that aids veterans. Whether mentally, physically or socially wounded, they support ex-service personnel and their families most in need through personalised programmes to help veterans who are struggling after military service.
Charley, 23, is a professional streamer and YouTuber from Swanley, who goes by the name ‘Halfordsucks’. He ran his first marathon two years ago on a treadmill raising funds for charity, whilst streaming and playing Warzone.
He was inspired to take on the challenge after suffering a fractured leg in a BMX accident a few years before, dashing his hopes of joining the Royal Marines.
“For me, a big part of the motivation is putting myself in a position so far from the norm, I have no other option than to push myself ridiculously hard to succeed,” he told the South London Press.
“After being told I would never be able to run again after serious injuries and being so beaten by that for years, setting out to do something this scale is to prove to myself that I am so much more capable than I ever imagined I could be.
“The plan is to cover a minimum distance of 30 miles a day, which if I keep my average marathon pace, will equate to between 4.5-5 hours of running per day.
“Although in a realistic sense, I have no idea how achievable it will be to maintain that pace day in, day out for a month so the times might end up being a little slower the longer the trip goes on.
“As for accommodation, we have a van that we have converted with bunk beds for myself and my friend supporting me to stay in so we will be going to places we can pitch up each night, which is what the bulk of the route is centred round.
“The entire trip will be documented and we plan to post a long form video to the Halfordsucks YouTube channel every 2-3 days while on the trip. We will also no doubt do a much longer video at the end detailing all the highlights as well as smaller videos and posts throughout across my various social media channels.”
Charley added: “Before my first marathon, I was living an unhealthy lifestyle, but that experience transformed me. The success of my marathon fuelled my ambition, leading me to set my sights on Land’s End to John O’Groats. While I anticipate that the challenge will be no easy feat, I am excited to get stuck in.”
To learn more about Halford’s journey or to support The Odyssey Project, please visit: https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/2258/the-odyssey-project-halfordsucks/
Pictured top: Charley Halford (Picture: CH)