David Graham, 46, will complete two ultramarathons in the space of three weeks, covering a combined distance of 170 miles to raise funds for the military charity.
The first event will see him run 70 miles along Hadrian’s Wall from Carlisle to Newcastle on Saturday 13th June. Three weeks later, on Saturday 4th July, he will tackle a 100-mile route from Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland to Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, aiming to complete it in under 30 hours.
Mr Graham, an electrical contracts manager from Swindon, said the challenge carries deep personal significance.
Raised in a military family, his father served for more than 15 years in the Royal Corps of Transport, his mother worked for the Ministry of Defence for over 20 years and his uncle served in the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment.
David said: “When choosing a charity for these two events, I knew I wanted one that was close to home.
“After speaking with my dad, a Royal Corps of Transport veteran, he told me about SSAFA and I knew the charity would be the right fit.
“I went from never knowing about SSAFA to discovering they played an instrumental part in my mum’s life after she fell on hard times, supporting her emotionally and financially when she needed it most.
“SSAFA came back into my family’s life once more when my uncle and his wife suffered a devastating house fire, stepping in to help fund new carpets and other household essentials to help rebuild their house into a home.”
He added: “It’s been a charity that has played a quiet, consistent role in my family’s life, and I will be forever grateful for their support.”
Founded more than 140 years ago, SSAFA provides practical, emotional and financial support to serving personnel, veterans and their families across the UK.
Mr Graham’s route to the start line has not been without obstacles.
He has lived with severe asthma, suffered a collapsed lung at the age of 18 and underwent full knee reconstruction surgery after an injury in his twenties. During marathon training, he also developed alopecia due to the physical strain.
Despite this, he has continued to push himself.
He said: “I’ve had to overcome many challenges in life, from the emotional journey of navigating the loss of my mum and uncle, right through to the physical tests of bad asthma as a child and teen, a collapsed lung and major knee surgery.
“However, I know those who serve have to overcome so much more, both while deployed and once they return home and transition to civvy street.
“During my training and when I reach those start lines, I’ll be thinking of those who have gone through so much to keep us safe at home.”
The ultramarathons mark the culmination of six months of preparation, during which Mr Graham will have run nearly 1,000 miles – roughly the equivalent distance from London to Rome.
He said his passion for running began unexpectedly.
“I was never a real runner,” he said.
“My passion for the sport stemmed from necessity whilst I worked away from home for 15 years. My evenings were spent down the pub, but I knew this needed to change, so I swapped the pints for the pavement and started running.
“What started as a 5k became a 10k, then a half marathon, and the distances just never stopped growing.”
Supporters can follow his progress and donate through his JustGiving page, with all funds raised going directly to SSAFA’s work.
Last year alone, the charity supported more than 50,000 members of the Armed Forces community, helping ensure that those who have served are not left to face challenges alone.
