Two ultramarathons, 21 days, 170 miles: swapping pints for pavements and one man’s mission to raise vital funds for Armed Forces charity

23 June 2026

“When my mum fell on hard times, SSAFA helped lift her up. When my uncle and his wife suffered a devastating house fire, SSAFA helped rebuild their home.” 

Local Swindon resident, David Graham (46), is no stranger to ultramarathons, but this summer he will be pushing himself further than ever before — completing two ultra marathons in three weeks, racking up a distance of 170 miles, all in aid of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. 

Growing up in a military family, determination and resilience were instilled into David’s everyday life. With a father who served for more than 15 years reaching the rank of sergeant in the Royal Corps of Transport, a mother who worked for the MOD for more than 20 years, and an uncle who served in the King's Own Royal Border Regiment, David knew his ultramarathons needed to be more than an endurance test, but a way to make a real difference to the Armed Forces community.  

Running his first of the ultras on Saturday 13 June, David will cover a total distance of 70 miles following Hadrian’s Wall from Carlisle to Newcastle with an elevation gain greater than 3,460 feet. Then, just three weeks later, on Saturday 4 July, he picks up his trainers to complete the second and final ultra — equalling a gruelling 100 miles in a target time of under 30 hours from Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland to Edinburgh Castle, Scotland 

Electrical contracts manager, David said: “When choosing a charity for these two events, I knew I wanted one that was close to home and, after speaking with my dad, a Royal Corps of Transport veteran, he told me about SSAFA, and I knew the charity would be the right fit. 

“I went from having never knowing about SSAFA to discovering they played an instrumental part in my mum’s life after she fell on hard times — supporting her emotionally and financially when she needed it most. SSAFA came back into my family’s life once more, when my uncle and his wife suffered a devastating house fire, stepping in to help fund new carpets and other brown goods to help rebuild their house into a home. 

“It’s been a charity that has played a quiet consistent role in my family’s life, and I will be forever grateful for their support. There will be other families, and people like me who may go a really long time never knowing someone close to them has sought support. More people need to know about SSAFA and how they can support veterans, serving personnel and their families.” 

SSAFA, the UK’s oldest tri-service charity, has supported the Armed Forces community for over 140 years. Its teams of trained volunteers and employees provide practical, emotional and financial assistance to those in need, whenever and however they need it to make sure they never battle alone. 

David added: “I’ve had to overcome many challenges in life, from the emotional journey of navigating the loss of my mum and uncle, right through to the physical test of having bad asthma as a child and teen, a collapsed lung at the age of 18, a knee injury in my twenties which led to a full reconstruction, and even alopecia following pushing my body too hard, whilst training for my first marathon.  

“However, I know those who serve have to overcome so much more, both while deployed and once they return home and transition to ‘civvy street’. 

“During my training and when I reach those start lines, I’ll be thinking of those who have gone through so much to keep us at home safe.” 

Tackling these epic distances is more than just race day, with sheer grit and determination required to persevere through the training. During his six-month preparation for his challenge, David will have covered just under 1,000 miles — the equivalent of running from London to Rome. 

Both ultras offer stunning views with Hadrian’s Wall traversing English countryside covering moors, rivers, valleys, ending in the city scape of Newcastle’s iconic Gateshead Quayside. The 100 miles from Bamburgh to Edinburgh covers ancient paths, glorious coastlines, wild moorlands and quaint villages, culminating in the dramatic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. 

David continued: “I was never a real runner. My passion for the sport stemmed from necessity whilst I worked away from home for 15 years — my evenings were spent down the pub, but I knew this needed to change, so I swapped the pints for the pavement and started running. What started as a 5k became 10k, and then became a half marathon, and the distances just never stopped growing.” 

To show your support of David’s mission and to help raise vital funds for SSAFA, visit: David’s JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/page/david-graham-1770218415666