Welsh Ultrarunner, Rhys Jenkins, is attempting to set a new world record running from John O’Groats to Land’s End whilst summiting each of the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales to help in the fight against child abuse.
On 13th July 2021, Rhys Jenkins (33, Penarth, South Wales), began his attempt to set a new record running the entire 1,050-miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End whilst submitting Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon along the way. In this incredible test of human endurance, Jenkins will need to run the equivalent of 40 marathons and tackle an elevation gain over 100,000ft in under 30 days.
For Jenkins, this challenge is not just about the record, he is running for a much bigger cause that’s extremely close to his and his wife’s heart.
“Unfortunately, growing up, my wife Cerys was abused as a child, so I’m running this challenge for her and all the other victims of child abuse across the UK. I’m not just running to raise £10,000 for the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a child abuse support charity, but, I’m also aiming to raise awareness and help normalise discussions on abuse. To remove the secrecy that surrounds it and keep it out of the dark. It will also help those that have been subjected to abuse realise they are not alone or different to anyone else.”
As an ambassador for the virtual running challenge brand Rokman, Rhys is no stranger to brutal challenges. In 2020, Jenkins broke the world record for running the 870-mile Wales Coast Path in 20 days 10 hours and 36 minutes.
“Breaking the Wales Coast Path record last year was the most brutal 20 days of my life and the one person I could not have done it without is my wife, Cerys. She was not just my support driver for the whole challenge but she was my rock. She looked after me every step of the way, feeding me, hydrating me and putting up with me when I was tired and grumpy.”
Rhys has a huge amount of respect for the current record holders, Adam Kimble and Kris King, who set a time of 30 days 8 hours and 18 minutes on 31st July 2018.
“What Adam and Kris achieved was fantastic! They set an amazing benchmark time in which to beat. If I want to break their record, I’m going to have to push myself harder than I’ve ever done before. It’s going to be epic!”