A Preston man has completed a 260km run in less than a week.
Josh Kirby, 32, took on the challenge during the May heatwave, covering 260km and climbing more than 5,500 metres in elevation.
The route, which took him from Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire to Lytham Windmill in Lancashire, raised funds and awareness for two charities.
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Josh supported Two Pints Deep, a charity dedicated to men’s mental health and suicide prevention, and Live Like Ralph, which helps young people access new opportunities.
He said these charities ‘mean a great deal’ to him after his friend Ralph Roberts died.
Josh said: “For months, my weekends revolved around training runs. There was constant eating, early mornings, sore legs, and the inevitable setbacks that come with preparing for something this demanding.
“There were times when injuries threatened to derail the challenge, but the thought of supporting these two incredible causes kept me focused on the goal ahead.
“And now, after months of preparation and six unforgettable days on the road, I can finally say: we did it.”
The challenge follows Josh’s previous fundraising effort, the ‘Ride for Ralph’, which he completed in memory of his close friend Ralph Roberts, who died a few years ago.
He said it was not only the physical demands of the challenge that tested him.
“I knew it would push me physically and mentally, with long days, tired legs, and plenty of moments where I’d have to dig deep. But every mile was for something bigger than myself.
“It wasn’t always pretty. There were moments when I doubted myself and times when the finish line felt impossibly far away. Some miles felt endless, and there were days when every step seemed harder than the last.
“But whenever those moments came, I allowed myself a minute, reset, and kept plodding forward.”
Josh completed the 260km challenge on 30 May, crossing the finish line at Lytham Windmill. You can still donate here.
