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Ultra-marathon runner to visit every cathedral city in England

09 August 2024

EXETER CATHEDRAL/ELLA FOSTER

Frank Wainwright with Canon Christopher Palmer

Frank Wainwright with Canon Christopher Palmer

THE ultra-marathon runner Frank Wainwright arrived at Exeter Cathedral last Friday, during a 62-day attempt to visit every cathedral city in England.

Mr Wainwright started the 2000-mile route on 1 July, setting out from Newcastle Cathedral, and is due to arrive back at the same cathedral on 31 August, having visited all of the other 41 along the way.

He is running about 30 miles a day, and raising funds for the youth charity the Brathay Trust. So far, he has raised £16,000, but hopes to hit £60,000 by the end of the challenge.

The Treasurer of Exeter Cathedral, Canon Christopher Palmer, himself a keen runner, joined Mr Wainwright for a section of the route last Friday, and said that he was “delighted” to welcome him to Exeter.

The Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, was at the start line at Newcastle Cathedral, and wrote on social media that it had been “great to pray Frank on his way”.

His full itinerary, including route maps, and further information, including regional dishes the he plans to sample along the way, are on his website: frankpublishing.com

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