Young farmer nears finish line in epic charity run for dad
Will Sercombe at John O'Groats, the starting point of his run © Helen Sercombe Young farmer Will Sercombe is just days away from completing an extraordinary 870-mile run from John O’Groats to Land’s End in memory of his late father, Charles, while raising vital funds for Cancer Research UK.
The 22-year-old, from Leicestershire, set off on 13 June and is now expected to reach Land’s End on Monday 29 June, having been delayed by challenging weather conditions throughout the journey.
Despite battling torrential rain in Scotland and extreme heat further south, Will has continued to average about 50 miles a day – the equivalent of almost two marathons every day for more than two weeks.
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His mother, Helen Sercombe, who has been supporting him from a campervan alongside family friend Caroline Evans, said the conditions had tested him to his limits.
“The weather has just thrown everything at him, so it’s a good job he’s got the farmer’s mentality that you just get on with life and just carry on,” she told Farmers Weekly.
50 miles a day
As of the evening of Wednesday 24 June, Will had covered 618 miles in just 12 days and was spending between 10 and 12 hours a day on the road.
On Friday 26 June, Will will run from Axbridge to west of Tiverton in Devon. Over the weekend, he will continue from Pennymoor to north of Minions, before heading on to Redruth in Cornwall.
If all goes to plan, he will complete the challenge on Monday 29 June, with a final run from Redruth to Land’s End.
Getting there…Will Sercombe well on his way to Land’s End © Helen Sercombe
Will’s challenge was inspired by the death of his father Charles Sercombe, the former NFU Livestock Board chairman, who died from stomach cancer in August 2024.
Mr Sercombe was a highly respected and much-loved figure in farming, especially the sheep sector.
Following his father’s diagnosis, Will started running 5km every day for a year before completing seven marathons in seven days last summer. This latest challenge is his most ambitious yet.
Helen said her son’s determination reflected Charles’s character.
‘Get checked’
“He is very resilient and a bit like his father. He will do things for other people,” she said. “He wanted to do this to raise money, raise the profile of cancer and get people to be checked out.”
There have been moments of self-doubt. During a particularly wet day in Scotland, running alone through relentless rain, Will joked to his mum: “This is a stupid idea.”
But Helen said he quickly regained focus. “His attitude is that he wants to do it for other people and raise awareness and bring in money. He’s definitely a giver.”
So far, Will’s efforts have raised almost £19,000 for Cancer Research UK. Donations can still be made via his fundraising page.
