Headteacher Takes on 100-Mile Ultra in Emotional Tribute to Friend

By Charities Correspondent

Richard Uffendell, Headteacher at Ashton Park School, is gearing up for one of his toughest challenges yet – a grueling 100-mile ultra marathon this May to raise money for the FORCE charity in memory of his close friend, Michelle, who died from cancer.

The West Country Ultra 100 kicks off at 6am on a Saturday, with Richard racing against a 34-hour clock to reach the finish line by 4pm Sunday.

The route snakes from Taunton through Bridgwater, hugs the coast near Hinkley Point, tackles the mountains around Dunkery Beacon, and finishes back in Minehead.

“Everything else stops during that time” Richard explains. “You go into a kind of survival mode where your only focus is to keep moving forward.”

For Richard, ultra running is just as much a mental challenge as a physical one. “Anyone can do it physically,” he said. “It’s all in the head.”

A seasoned runner, Richard has already completed 56 ultras and marathons over the past nine years.

Running has become his therapy: “It’s a form of therapy. If something isn’t sorted after a 25 mile run, it probably never will be.”

That balance has also helped him thrive as a headteacher.

Early in his headship, he considered giving up running to focus fully on work.

“He told me I’d regret stopping. He was right — continuing to run has made me better at what I do.”

Family always comes first. Richard carefully plans his training around time with his children, often running early in the morning or late at night.

“When I retire, the school will still be there, but I’ll still be a dad and a husband. That has to come first.”

Alongside racing, Richard gives back to the running community, volunteering at events and supporting fellow runners.

Even for someone who “runs to complete, not compete,” ultra running takes its toll. Recovery from a 100-mile race can take four to six weeks, and finishing often brings mixed emotions.

“You feel proud, of course, but there’s sometimes a bit of a dip afterwards. Then you start looking for the next challenge.”

Next year, Richard is already eyeing an even bigger feat: a 117-mile coast-to-coast run.

But this race carries more than just personal pride. Richard is running to raise money for the charity that supported Michelle and her family during her illness. She died just four months after being diagnosed with cancer.

A carer in a home for adults with mental health needs, Michelle was known for her compassion and generosity. “

She was exceptionally kind-hearted,” Richard said.

Michelle was also a familiar and much-loved presence in the running community, helping her husband and others not just with encouragement, but by delivering food and supplies and meeting runners along the routes.

“She didn’t have to do that, but she did. That was just who she was.”

The race is also deeply personal: Michelle’s husband, Martin, and Richard previously completed the 50-mile version of the same event, making this challenge especially poignant.

For Richard, the miles ahead are about endurance, but also about remembrance, gratitude, and purpose.

“They made such a difference at a very difficult time,” he said of the FORCE charity supporting Michelle and her family. “This is a way of giving something back — and of remembering someone who meant a great deal to many people. If anyone can dig in their pockets to donate a few pounds, I would be extremely grateful.”

Please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/richard-uffendell-wcu1002026?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL