Meet the Leeds man taking on a brutal ultramarathon where many entrants don't make it to the finish line

Just 40 per cent of the race’s total participants actually completed the Altra 13 Valleys Ultra last year. But Leeds man Ryan Morris is determined to make it to the end of the mammoth ultramarathon across the Lake District, whilst raising money to support a Yorkshire children’s hospice.

Ryan will run over 180km in the multi-day event which begins in Keswick on September 25. The endurance challenge ranks alongside some of the toughest ultra running tests in the world as it tasks participants to complete a 184.3km route in 46.5 hours or less.

It takes place across unmarked and rugged terrain and participants rely on a map and GPX file to keep on course. It’s the hardest challenge Ryan has ever taken on. “Everybody on the start line has no idea if they’ll reach the finish or not,” Ryan says. “It’s exciting and I’m quite nervous as well. It’s going to be an experience I’ve never had before.”

Ryan is supporting the Wetherby charity Martin House Children’s Hospice, which provides free family-led palliative care for children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

The 33-year-old had a chance supermarket encounter with a fundraiser who inspired him to raise £2,500 for the hospice through a backyard ultra endurance event last year.

“Spurred on” by the difference Martin House makes for families, Ryan is now increasing the difficulty in the hope of raising even more money.

He says: “If you’re going to do something, why not raise money for charity at the same time? It takes a lot of money to run a place like Martin House.”

Training has so far involved six to eight hours of “painful” practice runs every week as Ryan tries to get his body race-ready. He’s also preparing for the limited access to food and rest along the difficult route, which can take almost two full days to complete.

“I've got a seven-month-old child so I know what sleep deprivation is like but I've never had it where I'm out in the cold,” Ryan jokes. “I’m running through two nights and it’ll be a big challenge.”

Cheering Ryan on will be his partner Beth and their two young daughters. They’ve backed him every step of the way, and as race day soon approaches, Ryan hopes to make them proud. He said: “A reason I can’t fail is because they all know I’m doing it. I’m excited to push myself and I’m excited to get it done and see my family at the finish line.”

Every year Martin House supports over 550 children and young people, and their families, plus around 200 bereaved family members across West, North and East Yorkshire, at its hospice, in hospitals and in families’ own homes.

It costs £13 million a year to provide such care, the majority of which comes from voluntary donations and fundraising.