Uni of York student Rafe Coleman-Chadwick officially becomes youngest person to run the UK

In the past six months, Rafe Coleman-Chadwick has become somewhat of a micro-celebrity amongst the University of York community, as the 20-year-old became the youngest ever person to run the length of the UK in aid of Brain Cancer Research.

Having completed his run and his mission to raise £10,000 in memory of the late father who passed away from a glioblastoma brain tumour in 2018, The York Tab had the opportunity to speak to Rafe about his highs and lows. 

Rafe overcame multiple injuries 

When we first spoke to Rafe in the early stages of his run, he explained how the run was already proving to be physically gruelling. Having been bitten by a spider, plagued by tonsillitis and suffering from a knee injury, Rafe did not experience an easy start to his 800-mile journey. 

Unfortunately for Rafe, this was not the end of injuries.

Speaking to The York Tab, he confided that roughly 600 miles into the run, with 270 miles left to go, he developed a problem with his left knee. However, the problem did not result in Rafe giving up. Reflecting on the injury and how it impacted his run, Rafe confided that “it didn’t stop me, it only slowed me down.” 

As such, Rafe kept running, completing the final 270 miles only at a slower pace. When discussing the impact of the injury to his knee, Rafe’s determination and commitment to his cause were deeply evident as he explained that instead of stopping running, he decided to adjust his mileage and pace. A day of running which would have taken him four hours at the beginning would now take him seven hours.

Despite an injury that could have completely derailed his run, Rafe still managed to complete his 800-mile run of the UK 10 days ahead of schedule. 

When we asked him what kept him so deeply determined despite the setbacks, Rafe gave one answer: “If you are going to do something, you have to do it right.”

Rafe explained that for him this run wasn’t so much about the distance he ran or the speed he did it, but it was about the journey as a whole. All his setbacks and injuries only added to his journey and determination to do this run the right way. 

While Rafe may have run alone, he was joined by friends throughout the run

Rafe has now become the youngest person to ever run the length of the UK. However, as he shared many stories from his journey from Scotland to Lands End, it was evident he did not complete this run alone. 

Reflecting fondly on the process of completing the run as a whole, from training to reaching Lands End, Rafe repeatedly expressed his gratitude for the support of his friends and family. 

As a member of Lister-Kato Football, he explained how 15 of the members joined him in training. Completing a 5km farewell run with him before he set off on the actual run.

This support of friends continued into the run himself; Rafe shared that friends from his previous travels of South East Asia flew out to join him on his run. For many of his friends who joined him, it was their first time running such a far distance. 

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Speaking about all the support he received from friends, Rafe explained “While I ran alone, I did not complete it alone”, with one of his friends, Theo, completing his first half-marathon as a part of Rafe’s run. 

It was evident in the time that The York Tab spent speaking to Rafe that this support was essential to him. The run itself took him six weeks to complete, and in that time he spoke to very few people, which Rafe explained as being something rather unexpected and very isolating.

This made the support of his friends all the more essential and impactful. Rafe added that on the days he was joined by friends, “I actually ran faster”, as they boosted his morale. 

The run attracted support from Miriam Margolyes, Rob Rinder and Alfie Bowie

While Rafe has become a celebrity amongst students at the University of York, his charity work has also brought him the attention and support of many celebrities. 

When we asked him about how it felt to receive the support from names such as Miriam Margolyes, Rob Rinder and Alfie Bowie, Rafe summed it up in a few words: “It was definitely a pinch-me moment!”

During the run, Rafe had the opportunity to meet Alfie Bowie and essentially go on a “double date with him”. When The York Tab asked about how this connection came about, Rafe explained that Alfie Bowie is also connected to Brain Tumour Research, as he also lost his own dad to the disease. However, it was actually Rafe’s own mum who pitched the idea to Alfie, leading to the two meeting. 

The run proved to Rafe that even strangers can be united when we find common ground

Before we finished catching up with Rafe, we were eager to hear about what his greatest takeaways from the run were. Rafe was quick to answer: “The kindness of strangers”. 

Speaking on the moment which stuck out the most across his run, he spoke of the day where he had finished running his second ever ultra marathon alongside his friend Theo and went to the pub.

The pub, Rafe added, was one of maybe two others in a small English countryside town they had ended up in. He noted: “It was quite clear we weren’t locals due to our running gear”, so two young men started speaking to them. In this conversation, they explained how Rafe was running in memory of his late dad. 

“Immediately the of the men handed me £20; his friend then did the same”, Rafe shared, his disbelief still clear. He added: “They didn’t know who I was, but they wanted to help support me.” 

It was moments like those, Rafe explained, which stood out to him most in the run, as they proved the kindness and care of strangers. 

Rafe has now raised a total of £11,542 for Brain Tumour Research, a number which continues to grow. While he did not share the exact details about his next fundraising challenge, Rafe made it clear he’s not finished yet and something big is coming.