Running UK length - 1,083 Miles for Charlie Wynn

As many of you know, I set out to achieve a 10K run last year to raise money for my Brother, Charlie Wynn. Unfortunately, due to a storm the London Winter Run in Jan 2020 was cancelled. I then booked onto a 10k run at Hyde Park for March 2020 and then that was also cancelled due to Covid - So not had much luck in setting out to do what I promised for all your generous donations! 

I have now decided to do something much bigger and better which is a true challenge! My bestfriend Gemma has also committed to this in the hope that together, we will raise the much needed funds for Charlie's care and adaptions to come home. 

We have thrown ourselves right into the deep end on this one and have signed up to the Conqueror Lands End to St John O'Groats challenge. We will run the entire full length of the UK which is 1,083 Miles / 1,743 KM. Each of us will do this to achieve a combined number of 2,166 Miles / 3,486 KM.

No covid is getting in the way of this one as it's all done virtually, cauclated by our socially distant outdoor runs! We will update you with digital postcards to show the distance and landmarks we have reached along the way.

We have 52 weeks to complete this challenge, which calculates to 20.8 miles / 33.5 KM spread over 3 days a week. 

It's going to be tough but we will get the job done. 

For anyone who doesn't know Charlie and his story.. Here is a bit about him below. 

So Charlie has always been the most wonderful, loving, protective and hilarious big brother! He has that personality that just lights up the room and he always has an animated story to tell which is guaranteed to have you in stitches. Growing up we were so close, along with our elder brother Jamie. From the early days of action men & barbies, WWF figurines, mating our hamsters lol (sorry mum).. To finding Charlie in the same nightclub as me by "coincidence" ..More like checking up on me!! Point is, through all of that, he was by my side and was such a caring person who I looked up to. Moving into adulthood, Charlie then became a loving Uncle to my 2 little girls, who adore him. My youngest was only 8 months old when Charlie suffered his injury, but my 6 year old used to have sleepovers and days out with Charlie all the time and she cherishes each of those memories.

I have not been able to visit Charlie Since February due to Covid restrictions which has been very tough.

So that was a tiny background on Charlie growing up..

But now the following will explain his boxing background and his story, which are the reasons for why me and Gemma are doing this run for him.

Many of you may already know my brothers situation but for anybody who doesn't, here is a little insight on the biggest fight of his life - In his own words "I want to get home and to be able to walk". When Charlie was the age of 19 (he is now 30) he took himself off to a local gym because he fancied trying his hand in the world of amateurboxing. It turned out a very good decision as he went on to excel in the sport with a very good amateur record picking up many of good wins and several titles along the way. In 2016 he decided to take the plunge and turn professional. Although he picked up some decent sponsorship deals (the Millwall supporters club was by far the most prestigious to him as he is a lifelong Millwall supporter and season ticket holder). He still had to continue to work full time as an electrician to fulfil financial obligations. Charlie only managed to have 2 professional bouts, although he comfortably won them both.

On March 16th 2018 whilst preparing for his third fight, Charlie had a mishap when sparring. He became very weak towards the end of a six round sparring session and it was obvious that something was wrong…it was! Charlie lost consciousness and was taken to Kings College Hospital where we were told he had suffered an acute subdural haematoma (a large brain bleed). Charlie had to have emergency lifesaving surgery where a proportion of his skull was removed to relieve dangerous pressure within his skull. The operation was successful and the bleed was evacuated but Charlie’s brain had been significantly injured as a result of the bleed. Charlie remained in hospital for 10 weeks in a minimally conscious sate. Then on 25th May 2018, he got the move that we were all praying for, he was moved to the Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability in Putney. Since this move his progress was quite remarkable. After a while Charlie was able to start communicating with us, firstly using gestures such as raising a finger to say yes. This was incredible and such a huge step forward. As time went on and Charlie continued to work incredibly hard each and every day,  he was soon able to start speaking to us again and to hear him saying our names aloud was one of the best feelings in the world. Just before Christmas 2018, Charlie was then able to move to The Raphael Hospital in Tonbridge, in which he is working incredibly hard. He is not yet up on his feet & still very dependent on care but he has made huge progression and is still going strong.

The greatest unknown now is the path ahead for Charlie; what will be his limitations? How long will the road to recovery take?

Charlie's stay at his rehabilitation centre may soon be coming to an end due to funding, so we are now in a position to think about the next steps in getting him back home to my parents house to care for him. Many home adjustments and equipment to help him on his journey will be needed.

Our ultimate goal from the beginning was to get Charlie better and to come home and as mentioned above, in his own words; “I want to get home and to be able to walk”.

We will strive to ensure that he is able to accomplish his goals and greatly appreciate your help and support in his journey.

Charlie is a fighter, this is the biggest fight of his life but he will win it! #FEAR NO FOE!

Charlies fitness, hard work and dedication has always inspired me and I have always been so proud of what he has accomplished. So for those reasons above me and Gemma are determined to train hard and achieve our goal for him.

With not much fitness behind the pair of us this will be such a great achievement but we are confident we are going to smash our goals for Charlie!

Thank you so much,

Emma Wynn & Gemma Wisely xxx