Taking on an Ultra-Challenge in Memory of my Mum

Stuart Austin has raised over £7,753 for Saint Francis Hospice since we cared for his mum Lynda Reeve in 2009. Here Stuart shares his experience of hospice care and the gruelling ultra-challenge he completed in his mum’s memory.  

Mum had been diagnosed for over a year with stage 4 cancer and had been having chemo for a while but as she deteriorated, she had a fall. Unfortunately, this was the beginning of the end.

We managed to arrange a place for Mum at Saint Francis Hospice which was an amazing relief for our family. Just walking in you could see that mum was happy to be there. Being able to use the whole grounds was just beautiful.  

Everyone in our family cannot talk highly enough about the care Mum received, nothing was ever too much. Any request we had to make mum comfortable or any question, was answered with care and affection. Even when our emotions took over, the calmness of all the carers was second to none and the compassion shown was truly amazing.  

I truly believe the care teams helped my mum be at ease and to pass away at peace.  The fact we were allowed to be there in those final moments, no matter how painful, was amazing and my family and I will always be grateful. 

I have done a couple of fundraisers over the years and wanted to do something on the 15th anniversary of Mum’s passing.  

On searching through the web, I stumbled across the ultra-challenge. It was a 100km run, walk or jog over 1 or 2 days.  

I opted for the 2-day challenge to give myself every chance of completing it.  

Little did I know that things truly do get harder as you get older and that maybe running isn’t for me.  

On 25th May, I stood on the start line knowing that the training hadn't been enough but the support I had been given and the reason I was doing it would be enough to carry me through (or so I thought). 

I started well with the whole buzz and got to 12 km feeling good. However, it was from this point on it started to get hilly and the trails became harder and harder.  

By 30 km I was walking up hills that seemed never ending while trying not to fall on the trails as the course became harder and trickier.  

I walked up and over sties, through fields and down tiny pathways, with the support of my family every few kilometres when they could see me, driving me forward.  

It was so hard getting to 50 km on day one, but knowing I only had 8 km to go, helped me to push through to the the camp point.  

Day 2 was an early wet start with the remaining 42 km to go (marathon distance). It was hard to get going but I got talking to other people around me and was able to push through, making good time to the first 10 km stop point. 

From this point I have never questioned my life choices so much as it soon became the hardest thing I have ever experienced. The overnight rain and the terrain for the next 15 km turned it into a Tough Mudder through fields, footpaths and ditches while getting shoes stuck in the mud. I barely had enough energy to get past the cows and sheep.  

I didn’t know if I could carry on, but then out of the corner of my eye up ahead I thought I recognised someone. It was my wife and our kids and I had never been so pleased to see them. They gave me the biggest lift and I carried on knowing I had the toughest hill yet to come. With a few energy gels and drinks in me, I attacked it and up and over the South Downs I made it.  

The last 10 km seemed a lifetime and going down the last half kilometre on the racecourse was so tough, but as I crossed the line, it was the biggest relief. Somehow, I had done it! All emotions came over me as I got given the medal.  

I am so happy I was able to raise money for Saint Francis Hospice as the pain I suffered for such a little time on that day is nothing for the care the hospice gives to so many people.