A man from Ringwood is preparing to run 100 kilometres in a single day to support a local cancer charity after his father was told his cancer is incurable.
Jack Miller will set off from Lyndhurst at 4am on Saturday 21 June and aims to reach Poole Park around 12 hours later. His route will cover a mix of roads and trails through the New Forest and Dorset.
He hopes to raise funds for Dorset Cancer Care Foundation, a local charity that helps families struggling financially because of cancer. His father Ian, 51, plans to join him for the final kilometre.
Ian was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in March last year and was initially given the all-clear after treatment. But earlier this year the cancer was found to have spread to his lungs and is now considered incurable.
Jack said he wanted to mark the longest day of the year with a personal challenge and raise money for a cause that directly supports families like his. The run also links with an event being hosted at Poole Park by runderwear, a Poole-based sportswear company encouraging others to take on their own challenge on the same day.
Family members, including Jack’s sister Milly, his uncle and cousins, will join him for parts of the run. It will be the longest distance Jack has ever attempted.
Ian said the family has been overwhelmed by the support. He plans to help Jack over the final stretch and said the finish line will be “an emotional moment”.
The money raised will be used to help local families in Dorset through the Dorset Cancer Care Foundation.
Donations can be made on JustGiving.