Carer runs length of UK 'to test myself'

A carer has run the length of the UK from John o' Groats to Lands End to raise funds for charity after being inspired by health challenges faced by his parents.

Luke Wikinson, from Sheffield, set off on his 874-mile challenge at 07:00 BST on 16 June and finally came to a stop at Lands End at 13:00 BST on Sunday.

The 16-day run meant Mr Wilkinson was able to arrive in Cornwall in time to celebrate his 25th birthday on 1 July.

He said: “I wanted to do something difficult to test myself, to see what I was - and wasn’t - capable of. It turns out I was capable, but only just.”

Mr Wilkinson only started running seriously during the coronavirus lockdowns.

He formed a "bubble" with his mother, Ruth, who had been diagnosed with early onset dementia, and his father, Iain, who was suffering from brain cancer and who died in 2020.

Running in the Peak District during that period became respite from the stresses of his role as a young carer, he said.

The gruelling John o' Groats to Lands End challenge meant Mr Wilkinson ran almost 50 miles (80km) a day, starting very early in the morning and finishing late at night.

He slept in a rented camper van and had a rolling team on hand to support him on the way.

Members of the team were tasked with driving the camper van and making sure Mr Wilkinson was on schedule each morning, as well as ensuring he consumed enough calories and fluids.

Ben Popple and Josh Bonney were his support team on the stretch from Gretna Green to Ludlow, helping their friend for a total of five days.

Mr Popple said he had "huge admiration” for Mr Wilkinson's “grit and determination”.

“Every morning we’d see him take half an hour to get dressed because he was in so much pain.

"Then he’d set off and we’d turn to each other and think, 'how on earth is he going to get through today?'- and he always did."

According to Mr Bonney, the role of the support team was primarily “chef, driver and cheerleader”.

“We’d be driving around at 11 at night in quite remote areas just seeing if there was a kebab shop open so we could get the calories in him," he said.

As well as the long days on the road and the slog of running 50 miles a day, Mr Wilkinson admitted that "negotiating the cars" and road traffic in general was the most difficult aspect of his challenge.

"There were some beautiful bits of the UK to look at, but I couldn't appreciate it because I often had my head down or I was too busy dodging cars," he said.

As well as the personal endurance challenge, Mr Wilkinson said was also motivated along the way by raising money for three charities.

He raised over £4,000 for Alzheimer's Research UK, surpassing his original target of £500.

He also aimed to raise £500 each for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and eating disorder charity Beat - and those targets were met within the first two days of his run.

Mr Wilkinson said he celebrated reaching Lands End with a glass of prosecco, but admitted his injuries were starting to take their toll.

“The muscles around my shins aren’t working anymore and my pinky toes are cut to pieces from rubbing," he said.

Arriving at the end of his 834-mile challenge had been "emotional", he said.

"I had a rush of endorphins and felt weepy, for sure, thinking about my parents."

Mr Wilkinson said that after he had rested, his immediate task would be driving the camper van back to Sheffield, but he said that after that, more "scenic" challenges awaited.

"I would like the next big challenge to have less A-roads, so probably a country I've never visited. Maybe Asia would be interesting," he added.

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