The 12 marathons of Christmas: ultra-runner's festive challenge

Watch a report from ITV Anglia's Graham Stothard

Most of us are just getting stuck into the chocolates, ready to let loose our yuletide belt notches, but one ultra-runner from Bedfordshire is pushing the 12 days of Christmas to their limits by taking on a marathon challenge.

WIlliam Goodge from Ampthill in Bedfordshire, is running 12 marathons in 12 days in memory of his mum who died of cancer three years ago.

William will be running past the Macmillan Primrose Unit where his mother was treated before she died.

William's Mum Amanda was William's mum Amanda, a former nurse and later in life opened a cafe. She died from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2018 and was cared for at the Macmillan Primrose Unit at Bedford Hospital.

There she hosted many Macmillan coffee mornings, fundraising for Macmillan is a way to continue her legacy. 

The running also helped with deal with the grief of her loss. William said: "The first Christmas day after she passed I really wasn't looking forward to it, those days, her birthday, mothers day are obviously ones that are special to me, part of it is to try and keep my mind busy on those days and part of it is a gift to her."

For Macmillan support from people like William is essential.

William will finish his challenge in Cape Town in South Africa on Christmas day.

William is already a former rugby player and now model, and he announced his challenge to his 87,000 followers on instagram.

Despite only just starting this challenge. The next is in his sights already. He plans to run a marathon in all 48 counties across England, in just 30 days.

But that's a task for next year.

To donate to William’s 12 Marathons of Christmas challenge, visit: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WilliamGoodge