A TOWN centre business is supporting its employees in their bid to complete five ultra marathons on 2025 – and they’ve already done two with three to go during the summer.

Last month, family-run business UKMC launched a mammoth fundraising campaign – to run five ultra marathons this year, after founder Sam Fox and his wife Charlotte completed the London Marathon at the end of April.

The challenges will raise money for Children with Cancer UK and Kind.

UKMC’s head of sales Ben Fox took on The Sandstone Trail ultra marathon on Sunday, May 11 completing the 55km route in seven hours and 31 minutes.

For his second challenge, Ben took on the Lake District 100km ultra marathon on June 7 together with mortgage advisor Will Fox.

Three other members of the office team – Christopher Roberts, Eri Nani and Ray Fox – ran the Lake District 50km on the same day.

Next up is Race to the Stones 100km ultra marathon in Oxford on July followed by a 24-hour endurance Ultra at Moel Famu on August 16, where Ben is aiming to cover 100km, and Thames Path 100km ultra marathon on September 13.

Ben said: “It was great to get the first 100k challenge out of the way.

“The weather didn’t help on the day, consistent rain for the majority of it, making the conditions more difficult than they already were.

“Great effort from the team doing the 50k and a great effort from Will Fox ploughing through to the 100k with me, as he suffered from server chaffing and a bruised foot.

“I’m proud of them all. 

“After I've had a little rest, training will resume and preparation will commence for the ‘100k Race to the Stone challenge’ on July 12.”

Ben added: “I’ve set out to push myself through the summer of 2025 with a number of gruelling challenges.

“I’m hoping to raise £6,000 for two unbelievable charities that are close to my heart.

“I believe both charities need as much support as they can get.

“Hopefully the pain I will endure this year will encourage you all to support.”

“Our children are our future and I believe every child deserves a chance to succeed in life.

“The two charities I’m supporting work to achieve this.

“Thanks for everyone’s support so far - if people could share the just giving page, that would be fantastic.”

The fundraisers are hoping to hit their joint target of £10,000.

Click here to make a donation.