A doctor who cares for people with terminal illnesses is preparing to take on an epic challenge to support St Mary’s Hospice.

John Culling has started training for the GR131 Run Fuerteventura, a 180km trail route in the Canary Islands.

(Image: John Culling) As a ‘keen’ runner, John decided to set himself this big fitness challenge to mark his 50th birthday and support the ‘incredible’ hospice.

Having worked as a doctor at St Mary’s Hospice for ten years, John wanted to do something to support the ‘amazing’ team that has helped so many people.

“I really believe in the service,” John said.

“I am very proud to work here and it’s been such a pleasure to work alongside such dedicated colleagues tirelessly providing excellent care for anyone in Furness and South Lakes who has life-limiting illness and requires our help.”

The GR131 route passes through all seven of the Canary Islands from north-east to south-west and is traditionally walked over a number of weeks. John is aiming to complete the distance in just seven days.

John with some of his colleagues at St Mary's HospiceJohn with some of his colleagues at St Mary's Hospice (Image: John Culling) He will set off on his solo run, through a mix of volcanic, semi-desert landscape and isolated, rough and windy terrains, on April 22, 2025.

The doctor is no stranger to the Canary Islands and has visited many times before.

He is training hard and ran the length of Lanzarote, around 100km, earlier this year.

John is excited and looking forward to the challenge, though he is also feeling a bit anxious.

“I’ve not done anything quite this big before,” he said. While John has finished a couple of distance runs in the UK and Spain before, he said: “Nothing as scary as this."

(Image: John Culling) Some of his colleagues at the hospice have helped with setting up a donations page which has already raised over £700.

John said: “The overall running costs of the Hospice are currently £5.5m per year and we receive just over £1m from government funding.  Our services are always free for patients and families but eight out of every ten patients has their care funded by voluntary income and without people making donations and giving charitable gifts, the hospice wouldn’t be here.”

You can donate here.