Burnham-On-Sea fundraiser Sonny Topham has completed his most ambitious fitness challenge yet, a 65-mile challenge to walk and run between five of Somerset’s most famous peaks.
The personal trainer ran between five of Somerset’s best-known peaks in one day on Saturday (May 8th), his 30th birthday, raising more than £2,000 for In Charley’s Memory, a Burnham-based mental health support charity.
His epic 65-mile challenge started at 5.30am in Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday. He ran to Brean Down where he looped around the top, before heading on to Crook Peak.
Despite facing rain and gusty winds, he carried on to Kings Wood and Cheddar Gorge, before arriving at the top of Glastonbury Tor mid-afternoon.
He then headed across the Somerset Levels towards Burnham, taking in the top of Brent Knoll, before finishing the 65.39 mile gruelling challenge in an impressive time of 14 hours, one minute and 39 seconds.
“Man that was sooo tough… my legs were pretty much gone from about 25 miles in,” he said after finishing.
Several friends jogged and walked with Sonny along the route to keep him motivated and check on his progress, and he was met at the finishing line by family and friends who greeted him with loud cheers and a shower of champagne.
“It’s all for a very great cause, and I hope it also motivates and inspires people to achieve their own goals as well – even if it’s a walk or a 5km run, just get off your sofa and do positive things!”
Explaining why he chose his charity, he told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I am raising money for In Charley’s Memory, who provide vital mental health support locally. This is more important than ever now. Many young adults are struggling with their mental health, especially after what’s gone on during the last year.”
He adds: “Exercise has always helped me keep my mental health in check. It is always there when I need to work through some negativity, or feel positive about myself by achieving a specific fitness goal.”
“Now, more than ever, especially after the last year, it is clear that a lot of young people’s mental health has been impacted in a negative way. If, by completing a challenge like this, I can motivate them to never stop chasing their own dreams, whilst also raising money for a charity like ‘In Charley’s Memory’ that helps those struggling, then I will be very happy.”
He has a Just Giving Page here.
Sonny’s previous fundraising challenges:
- In June 2017, we reported here that Sonny had completed a gruelling challenge by walking up and down Brean Down 100 times in a day to raise money for a children’s charity and inspire others to conquer their personal goals.
- And in July 2018, we reported here how he took on the challenge of walking and running ten circuits of a 10-mile route in a day around Burnham, Highbridge and Brent Knoll for Children’s Hospice South West.
- In September 2019, we reported here how he had completed 32 non-stop jogging and walking circuits of a 2.5-mile course around the top of Brean Down.
- Also, in April 2020, we reported here how Sonny jogged and walked 31 miles in a day by completing almost 350 laps of the Burnham Infants School Playground in 6 hours and 30 minutes to raise cash for the charity ‘NHS Charities Together’.
See Sonny’s fundraising page here
