Runner prepares for 157-mile Buckingham Palace trek

James Taylor will be raising money for Bosom Family Support, also known as Hope House Scunthorpe

A runner is preparing to take on a 157-mile (about 250km) ultra-marathon in support of a cancer charity.

James Taylor, 25, will be running from Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, to Buckingham Palace on Saturday to fundraise for Hope House Scunthorpe.

The charity, which supports North Lincolnshire families affected by cancer, helped Mr Taylor's mother, who was diagnosed with the disease when he was younger.

"This is going to take more than 100% out of me, but that is nothing compared with what those who have got cancer go through," he said.

Mr Taylor, who lives in Lincoln, will set of from Becketts Health at 10:00 GMT on Saturday and hopes to reach Buckingham Palace by midday on Monday.

The personal trainer and online coach, who started running two years ago, plans to complete the challenge in three stints and in under 50 hours.

James Taylor with his dad, whose mother died of cancer on Christmas Day

Hope House is a group of survivors and supporters who offer advice, hold social nights and therapy sessions, and provide meals to families affected by cancer.

"It's somewhere that my mum went for that bit of support. It made her life 10 times easier," Mr Taylor said.

"As I've grown up and understand what they've done to help, I'm just trying to raise a bit of money... and do a bit back for them in return."

His grandmother Sandra, his father's mum, died from cancer on Christmas Day in 2023.

Less than a month ago, Mr Taylor's other grandmother died from the disease.

Last year, in memory of Sandra, Mr Taylor took on the Run The Date challenge in December, including a 31-mile ultra-marathon on New Year's Eve.

He clocked up about 375 miles (about 600km) during the month, raising funds for the charity.

Mr Taylor said seeing the impact last year's fundraising efforts had on the charity had inspired him to go even bigger this year.

He added: "If you want to do something, you can achieve it and hopefully Saturday will be walking proof – well, running proof – of that."

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