Charity Work

When my first marriage broke down, I nearly became homeless due to monetary difficulties. However, the Royal College of Nursing benevolent fund which provides financial assistance to current and former nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants, helped me to come back into my feet by providing me with a grand. One day I made myself a promise that I was going to repay it. 

I started my fundraising efforts in 2015 and since then Lucy and I Together so far we have raised over £30,000 for various charities.

2015

In 2015 I decided to run the Nottingham Marathon and raise money for the Mary Seacole Appeal.

2016

#Tweetathon

2015 I came across a charity called Cavell Nurses Trust. Cavell Nurses' Trust is named after British nurse Edith Cavell who is celebrated for saving soldiers' lives on both sides in World War I. 

Because she helped 200 Allied soldiers reach freedom from German-occupied Belgium, Edith was arrested, found guilty of treason and sentenced to death on 12 October 1915. 

Today Cavell Nurses' Trust supports nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and students in the UK who are going through financial or personal difficulties. 

The Trust supports beneficiaries through tough times that can include illness, domestic abuse, disability, working poverty or older age. That was the moment I had been waiting for and decided to start fundraising for them and help other nurses in hardship to not leave the profession. Since then I have been fundraising for them every year.

2016 In 20116 I ran the Liverpool marathon with a twist. I ran while being live on twitter at the same time. I did the 1st world #Tweetathon.

2017

#TheBigHop

In 2017 I decided to Hop around Rother Valley Country Park on a Space Hopper: I called it " The Big Hop". You can still find it on Social Media using #TheBigHop.

2018

#10Kostumes

In 2018 I decided to Climb Snowdonia with another twist. I changed my costume 10 times. You can still find it on Social media using #10Kostumes. Unfortunately we couldn't reach the summit due a massive storm but it didn't stop me from using my 10 costumes.

2019

In 2019 I went back to Snowdonia trying to reach the summit. This year my son Luke came with me.  This time we finished what we couldn't do the previous year and successfully reached the Summit.

2020

#stepathon4Cavell

In 2020 I had a big challenge planned but I got struck by COVID just 4 days before it was due to happen. With a quick change of plans I decided to do 10,000 steps from my bedroom where I was quarantined. The challenge was broadcasted live on Twitter and people were able to interact and for a small donation were able to choose the music I was listening to while doing the challenge around my bedroom.

2021

#Pint4Cavell

Then in 2021 after 18 months of lock down and pandemic I was diagnosed with PTSD. As part of my treatment I decided to start running. Some people do couch to 5km but I like to do things my way and I decided to run a marathon dressed as a pint of beer instead and try to beat a Guinness World Record.

You can follow all action of my odyssey on Social Media using #Pint4Cavell.
I managed to crossed the finish line but unfortunately not fast enough to beat the Guinness World Record.

2022

#Pint4Ashgate

In 2022 my partner Lucy Price convinced me to try again to become the fastest pint on earth but this time I decided to fundraise for our local Hospice as Cavell Trust did not have a place at London Marathon. 

You can follow our journey on social media using #Pint4Ashagte.

My epic attempt to become world champion got featured on the BBC not once but twice.

On 2nd of October 2022 I managed against all odds to become a world Champion and beat the Guinness World Record as the fastest Pint to complete a Marathon. Lucy was pacing me. I become the fastest pint of the Universe. 

2023

#WeRCrackers

In 2023 we went BIG. We did not just one challenge. We did 3 Marathons and the Yorkshire 3 Peaks!!

1.- On 23 April Lucy succeeded in becoming the fastest woman to complete a marathon dressed as a Xmas Cracker at the London Marathon. This time the roles were reversed and I was the one pacing Lucy making sure that she crossed the finish line and beat the Guinness World Record. 

2.- 14th Of May we ran the Rob Burrows Leeds Marathon both of us dressed as a Xmas Crackers.

3.- And on the 24th June we became the first couple to complete the tough Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge dressed as a Xmas Crackers.

4.- On Sunday 24th September we flew to Germany to run the Berlin Marathon where I managed to smashed the Guinness World Record and become the fastest man to complete a Marathon dressed as a Xmas Cracker. 

This year we fundraised for 2 charities close to our hearts: Ashgate Hospice & Cavell Nurses' Trust.

You can follow our journey on Social Media at #WeRCrackers.

2024

The 3-2-1 Challenge

2025/26

Super Halfs Chase

For the next two years Lucy and I will be chasing each other across Europe.

In 2025/26 will be running the SuperHalfs series:  It's a series of six glorious half marathons that will take us to Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia.

6 races in 20 months. The dates are the following:

Race 1: Lisbon on 9th March 2025

Race 2: Prague on 5th April 2025

Race 3: Valencia on 26th October 2025

Race 4: Berlin on April 2026

Race 5: Copenhagen on September 2026 

Race 6: Cardiff on October 2026

But as usual we will be doing this challenge with a twist: We will be chasing each other wearing a horse outfit.

For each race we will accumulate our times like the Tour de France and on the final race in Cardiff the person in front will start when the gun goes and the second will wait the amount of time that he/she is behind and try to catch the other. The first one to cross the line will be the winner of the #SuperHalfsChase.

Will it be Lucy?

Will it be Jo? 

You can start placing your bets on #TeamJo or #TeamLucy from January 2025. All money will be going to two charities close to our harts: Cavell & Nurse Lifeline.

You will be able to follow our journey and all preparation on Social Media using #SuperHalfsChase & #WeRCrackers.