Very soon, you’ll almost certainly be driven crazy as Chris Rea warbles on about ‘Driving Home for Christmas’. Well, Jamie Mitchell-Kempner will actually be stepping out to do a lot better than that!
The former seafarer will be running home for Christmas – 100 kilometres from his home in Greenwich to his parents’ place in Great Chesterford, a pretty village on the Essex-Cambridgeshire border
The 32-year-old is planning to complete his ultra marathon within a single day, setting out on 21st December, the shortest day of the year.
“I'm lacing up my running shoes to tackle 100km on the 21st of December. Running Home For Christmas from London to Great Chesterford”, he writes on his fundraising page.
“Regardless of the weather I will taking on this challenge, so please support my suffering!
“For over 15 years, my family has lived with the daily challenges of ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), by sponsoring my run, you’ll be helping fund their crucial efforts and bringing hope to countless people living.”
Jamie is the son of Sue Mitchell, who has had ME for all that time, and her husband, ME Association trustee Mike.
He went to sea after dropping out of university and worked his way round the world several times on container ships and tankers. “It really forced me to grow up”, he told us.
Photos show Jamie – on the beach at Vouliagmeni in Greece after completing a local Half Ironman (his dad Mike is seen taking the photo); with partner Sarah and their cockapoo, Ellis; triumphant at tne end of another fabulous climb
Jamie has now taken his ticket to life on shore and works for a company called Flexport in the freight-forwarding industry.
In the short time he has been running competitively, he's become a veteran of half and full marathons. In April this year, he was up in Scotland – one of 350 runners taking part in the Isle of Arran Rat Race, covering 97 off-road kilometres in two days across mountains, raging torrents and through forests. He's only been running since the Covid pandemic and did the Arran event with his more experienced brother Tom.
For his own ultra marathon on 21st December, he will be following a line of river and canal towpaths through London and then pounding footpaths and bridal ways through Essex.
“For those of you who live near Great Chesterford, it would be lovely to see you at the finish line – the Crown & Thistle Pub – or join me for the last few kilometres.”
He hopes his family pet, a four-year-old cockapoo called Ellis, will join him on one of the stages as he gets close to Great Chesterford.
The very best of luck, Jamie. Everyone at the ME Association will be rooting for you!
If you would like to show Jamie your support for his long home run, please visit::
https://www.justgiving.com/page/jamie100k
Here's his route – all the way from Greenwich to the Crown and Thistle at Great Chesterford.
Tony Britton
Senior Fundraising Consultant, The ME Association
tony.britton@meassociation.org.uk Mob: 07393 805566
