Determined man from Newton runs the length of the UK for charity

Ellis Anderson, 25, decided to run from John O’Groats in Scotland to Lands’ End in Cornwall to raise money for two different mental health charities after being set the challenge by a friend.

The plumber from Newton-le-Willows was first challenged to complete a triathlon by one of his friends two years ago to push his limits.

Ellis, who said he isn’t the strongest swimmer, was later challenged to cycle the length of the UK instead.

“I used to do a lot of cycling, so I said it would be too easy,” said Ellis.

So, Ellis decided to run it instead and two years later, after various delays, he set off from John O’Groats on Monday, April 1.

“I only did four days of preparation doing 32 miles a day back-to-back and that was it,” he said.

“I knew I could do it.”

The determined plumber decided to raise money for two different mental health charities while completing the huge 874-mile run.

Ellis set himself the massive challenge of raising £40,000 for Young Minds and Andy’s Man Club.

“I’m in a mental and physical space where I can give back now – I want to give back,” he said.

“For me, it’s go big or go home.”

Ellis is raising money for two charities - one of which is Young Minds (Image: Ellis Anderson)

Young Minds is a mental health charity that helps young people who are struggling, as well as providing training for parents and carers to help support their children.

Andy’s Man Club, a charity that is particularly close to Ellis’ heart, is a men’s suicide prevention charity that offers peer-to-peer support groups to help break the stigma around mental health.

Ellis, who admits to having struggled with mental health in the past, attends some of these peer sessions himself and now wants to help the group that supports him.

“People say that there’s a stigma around mental health, but I don’t like to say there’s a stigma. I like to say that men and women, no matter who you are or how old, should be honest when they talk and say it how it is.”

“I get some people don’t want to tell their family because they feel like a burden but that’s why you’ve got the charities out there that are willing to help.”

The 25-year-old is using the strong mental attitude he carries in everyday life to help him get through the 874 miles to the finish line.

“I don’t want to look at the entire map, because if you look at it as the whole picture – 870 miles with well over 20,000 meters of elevation – I’ll think I cant do that,” he said.

“But if I can break it down into 10-kilometre sections, all I have to do is do that five or six times a day.

“If you think of something big in life, just break it down into little segments you can deal with.”

Ellis is hoping to complete the run within 28 days, and will be passing through his home town next week.

The details of Ellis’ run and how to donate to his Just Giving page and can be found here.