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Man runs across India in seven days for charity

James Poole Will Robinson wearing a black North Face t-shirt, watch, and large black sunglasses. He is running along a beach at dusk. It is dimly lit, and in the out-of-focus background there are colourful boats resting on the sand and large palm trees.James Poole
The endurance runner said he "was sad to leave" a place he had become so fond of

An endurance runner pushed his limits to the extreme when he crossed India in seven days for charity.

Will Robinson, from Bristol, ran 740km (459 miles) from Chennai to Mangaluru on the opposite coast in a week, navigating through India's rural roads and busy cities.

He admitted to being in "a bad way" when he completed the feat on 13 December, as temperatures rose to 40C (104F) during the challenge.

Mr Robinson hopes his fundraiser will motivate others to see what they are capable of achieving.

"I got absolutely roasted, I've never been so hot in my life," he said.

"It just reflects off the tarmac, dry heat, no shade, no wind. I was not in a good way."

The money raised will be donated to three charities to help tackle homelessness, improve mental health, and promote sport in marginalised communities.

James Poole Will Robinson running in the dark through a back alleyway. He is wearing patterned shorts, a black t-shirt, a running vest and black backwards cap. The alley is dirty and littered, with a bright light on the left. A local Indian man wearing a blue buttoned shirt and wrap on his lower half is watching Will run past. James Poole
Mr Robinson set off on his journey at 05:00 on 6 December

After setting off at 05:00 for an early start, Mr Robinson soon realised his biggest obstacle would not be the miles stretching out in front of him.

It was in fact the "unforgiving" 40C (104F) beating down on him.

On the second day, his support team "deployed an umbrella" to help deflect the sun, which unsurprisingly garnered "a lot of attention" from the locals.

"If you want to stick out in India, you want to be tall, white, and running with an umbrella," he added.

David Altabev Will Robinson wearing a black running t-shirt and a white cap backwards. He has short brown hair and a ginger beard. He is wearing reflective sunglasses on his head and smiling at the camera as he runs through a park. In the background there are trees which are out of focus.David Altabev
Mr Robinson chose charities close to his heart

Mr Robinson makes a habit of pushing his body to extremes for a good cause.

In 2023, he ran 200 miles and raised £10,000 for his friend Will Bennetts, who had to have both legs amputated after a climbing accident.

This time, the £3,000 raised will go to three causes close to his heart:

Mind Over Mountains, a mental health charity that enables people to thrive through therapeutic outdoor experiences.

The Running Charity, which supports young people aged 16-25 facing homelessness by providing wraparound support and coaching sessions.

The Simply Sport Foundation, which helps marginalised communities get access to training and sporting equipment.

"To put it simply, getting people active is my passion," said Mr Robinson.

"At 14 I wasn't a very academic child. My dad took me for a run which ended up being a half marathon. This was the first time that I felt I achieved something.

"I learnt how to work towards a goal, which I soon realised could be transferable into real life."

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