Project 565 Miles – Paul Mason
In 2020 Paul Mason ran 565 miles to raise awareness and funds for research into cancer specifically hepatocellular carcinoma at King’s College Hospital (KCH) in London. He ran in memory of his friend Mark Thornberry, who died of primary liver cancer in June 2020 after a 3-year long battle.
The original plan was to complete his challenge in 100 days. Paul would start on May 21 with the Grand Union Canal Race (GUCR), Britain’s longest, toughest, non-stop running race. Competitors are required to complete the 145 mile distance from the centre of Birmingham to the centre of London along the Grand Union Canal within the time limit of 45 hours.
Paul planned to undertake a double GUCR145, starting from the finish line in Little Venice, London, run up to Birmingham, then turnaround and join the official race and run back down to London all within 4 days.
This didn’t happen because of Covid-19, so Paul rescheduled Double GUCR145 (290 miles) to 23rd July – 26th July 2020:
He was wearing a tracker for the full event so people could join him or follow along.
Leg 1 – Little Venice London to Birmingham Gas Street – Thurs 23rd July to Fri 24th July
Start L.V London – 4am – 0 miles
H’brough Tavern – 6am – 11 miles
Springwell Lock – 7.50am – 22.5 miles
Grand Junction Arms – 10am – 35 miles
Br99 Water Eaton – 12.15pm – 45 miles
Navigation Br 64 – 4.30pm – 61 miles
Heart of England – 8.15pm – 76 miles
Birdingbury Br21 – 3.45am – 96 miles
Hatton Locks – 7.30am – 120 miles
Catherine de barnes 2pm Fri – 135 miles
Gas St Bham – 6pm Fri – 145 miles
Sat 25th/Sun 26th leg 2 – 146 miles to 290 miles.
Paul had 2 crews of 2 people each to help keep him moving forward to deliver the goal for Mark.
This number was available for those wishing to join on any of the 290 mile journey up and back along the GU canal over the 4 days:
“At the end of June 2017 fellow runner Mark Thornberry was diagnosed with a type of terminal primary liver cancer and given 6 to 9 months to live.
However, Mark was determined not to go quietly into the night and followed surgery at the start of 2019 to remove 50% of his liver, numerous other procedures and an experimental dual drug trial, still fighting a valiant battle.
Unfortunately at the end of September 2019 additional secondary tumors were identified and there was a strong probability that Mark would no longer be eligible to continue the drug trial he was on.
On June 14, 2020, Mark’s race ended. He will always be a huge inspiration!
On August 9, 2020, Paul wrote:
“HUGE thanks to everybody as pre “Run for Thorners” we set a Goal of raising 3k and today we have broken through the 5k and 6k with Gift Aid. So the 300 mile run up and back along the GU Canal, was a journey I will never forget. My Why was always big and important to me and running to raise monies for Mark Thornberry and keep awareness of Liver Cancer research for the Kings College Hospital kept me moving forward to the end. This challenge was the toughest todate but one that I enjoyed the suck when things got tough.”
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