A team of military veterans and civilians has set off from Easington, near Hull, on a 306km non-stop coast-to-coast endurance challenge to raise awareness of veteran mental health.
The run, organised by Veterans for Veterans, began as planned at 10pm on Tuesday 19th May. The team is now making its way across the country in a continuous relay and is due to arrive in Liverpool at midday on Thursday 21st May.
Supporters can track the runners live here.
The challenge, called “The 38”, is taking place following Mental Health Awareness Week. The number reflects ONS data showing that male UK armed forces veterans aged 25 to 34 in England and Wales had a suicide rate of 38 deaths per 100,000 in 2021.
Runners are operating in pairs — one veteran and one civilian — to reinforce a clear message: recovery is not a solo effort. Support must be shared.
The run is designed to open honest conversations around mental health, including anxiety, PTSD and depression, within both veteran and civilian communities.
The official charity partner is Head Up, the mental health charity for the armed forces community.
Jay Morton, Veterans for Veterans ambassador and one of the runners, said: “We’ve all carried weight most people don’t see. This run puts that into the open. It shows that strength isn’t silence — it’s speaking up and moving forward together.
”The run is also being documented on social media, capturing the physical and mental strain of the journey and the conversations that happen along the way.
Media and the public are invited to welcome the team at the finish in Liverpool on Thursday 21st May 2026 at 12 noon.