Yahoo Finance Avid runner zig-zags for 249 miles across the capital by jogging to every Tube stop in London raising money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity
An avid runner has zig-zagged across the capital for 249 miles by jogging to every Tube stop in London, raising money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, after two friends were diagnosed with the disease.
School IT manager Ray Wise, 56, had the idea to run the span of the London Underground following a lightbulb moment jogging along the length of the Victoria Line, from Brixton in south west London to Walthamstow in the east.
Ray, who is single and lives in Tottenham Hale, north London, said: “I’ve always been an avid runner, but the idea was sparked back in 2016 when a dear friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer.”
He added: “They were treated at the Royal Marsden and afterwards I really wanted to do something to give back in some way.”
Going out for a run, Ray caught the Tube from Tottenham Hale to Brixton on the Victoria line.
“I decided to jump on the tube to Brixton and run home from there,” he said.
He added: “When I got back, I thought, ‘I may as well finish the line,’ and ran the extra two stops to Walthamstow Central.
“After that, the idea was born.”
Ray devised a plan to run the length of every Tube line, marking out rules for the runs.
He said: “I decided I would take pictures outside each station to document my run.
“While it would be impossible to stay completely along the line at all times, due to buildings and roadworks, I would stay within 30 metres of the line throughout the run.
“If it’s a line that splits off, I choose the longest route. So, with the Northern line, for example, I chose the Bank route because it’s slightly longer than the Charing Cross one.”
Sadly, Ray suffered with recurring calf injuries during his marathon feat, but remained determined to complete the challenge before the end of 2021.
He said: “Another friend was diagnosed with breast cancer during the pandemic and it gave me the motivation to carry on with the idea.
“When a friend goes through an illness that serious, you can feel quite helpless.”
He added: “It felt good to at least be able to raise a little bit of money to go towards helping others get treatment.
“My latest run was the Piccadilly Line, which I completed about a month ago, and before that it was the District and Metropolitan Line.”
Finishing the length of the Piccadilly Line – approximately 37 miles – in six and a half hours, Ray finally completed his challenge by running along the path of the Central Line, covering around 42 miles, on Saturday, December 4.
He said: “It’s been tricky with the Covid regulations to get all my friends and family out to celebrate in person.
“Some are shielding and others have tested positive, so it’s the wrong time to be organising anything in person.
“Instead, I’ve been keeping everyone up to date by live-posting about my runs along the way and uploading selfies of myself outside stations onto Facebook when I reach each one.”
He added: “It’s great because it means that while not everyone can join me physically, they can still support me and follow my progress virtually.”
Now Ray is looking forward to reminiscing about the places he has visited in London during the challenge.
He said: “It’s been really good fun and, while I’m probably not ready to be a Green Badge Guide to the City of London quite yet, I could probably point you in the direction of most places in the capital.”
He added: “For me, the most enjoyable route was the Metropolitan Line. It starts way out in Chesham in, Buckinghamshire – which is the furthest stop from the centre of London – so I saw lots of countryside and parts of the city’s outskirts I’d never seen before.
“On the other hand, I’m a bit sick of Kings Cross now, after having to run through the area six times!
“I chose to fundraise for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity because two of my friends have been treated at The Royal Marsden within the last five years.”
He added: “The support they’ve received has been second to none and both have sung the praises of the hospital’s wonderful staff and facilities.”
On December 4, in just over seven hours, Ray reached Epping Station on the Central Line, in Essex, marking his last stop on the Tube map and has, so far, raised £2,602.
He said: “It’s been a brilliant experience and one that I’ll be able to look back on with all the selfies I’ve taken at the different stations.”
He added: “London doesn’t have the hills that other parts of the country do, so sometimes running the same routes can be quite boring.
“The challenge was a great way for me to switch it up and take on something different.
“It was all for a good cause, too, which is the whole idea behind it.”
He added: “I’m hoping to hit £5,000 in donations this week, which would be a lovely ending to an incredible five years.”
Antonia Dalmahoy, managing director of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, is delighted by Ray’s innovative fundraising feat.
He said: “It’s thanks to our incredible supporters that we’re able to keep looking for ways to improve the lives of people affected by cancer, and their creative fundraising challenges keep us all inspired and entertained.”
He added: “The money Ray has raised with this epic challenge across every corner of London will help The Royal Marsden to continue to deliver the very best research, treatment and care, helping patients not just here, but across the UK and around the world.”
To support Ray’s fundraiser, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ray4cancer
