INSPIRED colleagues take on 173-mile ultra-running challenge to raise £10,000 for charity
Two colleagues from INSPIRED Pet Nutrition are preparing to take on an extraordinary endurance challenge, running 173 miles over four days to raise vital funds for the company's three corporate charity partners.
Yvonne Farrington, People Partner, and Chris Shannon, Head of Sales (UK Retail BU), will set off from INSPIRED Pet Nutrition's Head Office in Thirsk on Friday 26 June 2026, running to the company's facility in Crick, Northamptonshire.
The ambitious challenge aims to raise £10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, Dogs Trust and The Woodland Trust, reflecting INSPIRED's commitment to supporting People, Pets and Planet.
Colleagues and supporters will gather at the company's Head Office in Thirsk to see Yvonne and Chris off at the start of their journey.
Thanks to the generosity of colleagues, family, friends, suppliers and local fundraising activities, the campaign has already raised more than £8,000 towards its target.
Throughout the four-day challenge, Yvonne and Chris will be supported by around 25 colleagues, with a dedicated crew of six accompanying them every step of the way.
Speaking ahead of the challenge, Yvonne Farrington said: “We wanted to push ourselves further than we ever have before. We’re both keen runners, but we’ve never attempted anything on this scale, and that’s exactly why it felt like the right challenge. We wanted something that would truly test our limits and help us raise as much money as possible for causes we care deeply about.”
Chris Shannon added: “This challenge is a mix of excitement and nerves. It’s something that scares us a little, but that’s what makes it meaningful. Seeing others take on big challenges for charity inspired us to do the same, and once the idea took hold, we knew we had to commit.”
The three charities were selected because of their close connection to both the runners and the wider business.
“We’re surrounded by pets in our workplace and see every day how much joy they bring,” said Yvonne. “We’ve also been personally affected by cancer, so supporting Macmillan feels incredibly important. Together with The Woodland Trust, our three charities represent causes that really matter to us and our colleagues.”
You can follow the team's progress in real time via a live tracker and support the challenge by donating to or sharing the fundraising page: https://live.kongtracking.com/YCCR2026/
