Project 39

39 endurance challenges in support of Demelza.

I started Project 39 on my 39th birthday, 17 June 2025. The plan was to take on 39 endurance challenges and raise money for Demelza. The journey has continued into 2026, with the final challenges planned for November.

Some have been solo. Others have brought people together for long hikes, mountain days and gym challenges. There have been good days, difficult days, plenty of coffee and some brilliant people joining me along the way.

34 challenges completed

For Challenge 34, I led a group from Eastbourne to Brighton via the Seven Sisters cliffs on 26 September: 44km and 910m of elevation. People from different walks of life, ages and fitness levels helping each other through a long day outside. Everyone’s Everest is different.

What’s coming next

Challenge 35 · Friday 16 October 2026: climbing Ben Nevis with two clients.
Challenge 36 · Saturday 17 October 2026: running The Dramathon, a trail marathon in Scotland, the day after Ben Nevis.
Challenge 37 · Thursday 29 October 2026: HYROX Doubles in London with Dean.
Challenge 38 · Early November 2026: either the 24-hour sit-down or a final gym challenge. The challenge and date are still to be decided.
Challenge 39 · Second week of November 2026: the final triangle hike between all three charity sites in the south-east, approximately 250–260km. Exact dates are still to be confirmed.

Follow the updates for the remaining challenges and how to support Demelza. Project 39’s fundraising is separate from Castle to Castle, which supports Airlie Days.

Explore RUGGED Challenges Follow James’s updates

James

The challenges so far

Challenge 1 · Everesting
Trying to climb the height of Everest in under 48 hours. Up and down the same hill. The start of Project 39.
Read the full story
Challenge 2 · The Trident
Our first gym challenge. Taking on a full marathon on the SkiErg, rower and Assault Bike as a team.
Read the full story
Challenge 3 · Endure 200
A self-supported 200km hike, setting out from Whitstable towards Brighton. Two and a half days on foot, starting at 5pm on Saturday.
Challenge 4 · London marathon hike
Leading a group on a marathon-distance hike around London. A full day on our feet, taking on the city together.
Challenge 5 · The longest workout
The goal: burn 3,900 calories on my watch in one session. Different exercises, back to back, until the target was reached.
Challenge 6 · 10,000m sled push
A team gym challenge. Keep pushing the sled, taking turns and working together towards 10,000 metres.
Challenge 7 · Peak District elevation challenge
A solo challenge in the Peak District. The goal was to keep climbing until I reached 3,900 metres of elevation.
Challenge 8 · South Downs Way
Taking on the 100-mile trail from Winchester to Eastbourne over two days, with Dean joining me for part of the route.
Challenge 9 · 10,000m sled pull
Another team gym challenge. Pulling weighted sleds, taking turns and working together towards 10,000 metres.
Challenge 10 · Assault Bike marathon
A solo marathon on the Assault Bike. One machine, one marathon distance to complete.
Challenge 11 · Rowing marathon
A solo marathon on the rower. Keep rowing until the full marathon distance was done.
Challenge 12 · Castle to Castle
Leading a group on a 50km ultra hike from Rochester Castle to Tonbridge Castle. A long day on our feet, taking it on together.
Challenge 13 · SkiErg marathon
A solo marathon on the SkiErg. That was a hard one.
Challenge 14 · Pen y Fan elevation challenge
Taking a team to Wales for an elevation challenge around Pen y Fan. Climbing together and working through the hard parts.
Challenge 15 · Through-the-night marathon
A solo marathon-distance hike through the night. Head torch on, keep moving.
Challenge 16 · Hybrid ultra
Repeated endurance blocks on the rower and SkiErg. Nine hours of work, going again and again.
Challenge 17 · Local hill challenge
Find a local hill and keep going up and down. The goal: 3,900 feet of elevation and a marathon distance in the same challenge.
Challenge 18 · Team chipper
A community gym challenge. Working through different exercises as a team, chipping away until everything was completed.
Challenge 19 · Isle of Wight
A two-day, 100km hiking adventure around the Isle of Wight with two clients and friends.
Challenge 20 · Run-row marathon
A marathon split between two disciplines: 21km on the rower and 21km on the treadmill.
Challenge 21 · Run-walk marathon
A discipline challenge. Run, walk, run, walk — keep going until a full marathon was completed.
Challenge 22 · Team chipper
Back in the gym for another team chipper. Different exercises, everyone doing their part until the work was done.
Challenge 23 · Night marathon hike
Another solo marathon-distance hike through the night. Self-supported, carrying everything I needed.
Challenge 24 · Tunnel half marathon
Running up and down a tunnel until I completed a half marathon. Same stretch, over and over.
Challenge 25 · Surrey Three Peaks
Leading a team on the Surrey Three Peaks challenge. A proper day of hills, distance and working together.
Challenge 26 · Community lift
A community lifting challenge organised by Chapter Gym. Different lifts and weights, all with a 39 theme.
Challenge 27 · Solo double marathon
Two marathons back to back. A solo 85km hike, carrying on when one marathon was already in the legs.
Challenge 28 · Abergavenny Three Peaks
Taking a team to Wales and leading them on the Abergavenny Three Peaks challenge. Three peaks, one shared challenge.
Challenge 29 · The Long Climb
Back to Wales to revisit my elevation challenge. Up and down until I reached 3,900 metres of climbing, with an ultra-distance hike along the way.
Challenge 30 · Thames Path
A two-day challenge on the Thames Path. 112.10km · 20h 41m · 528m elevation gain.
Challenge 31 · Sarah’s Challenge
24 hours taking on Sarah’s Challenge with the team at Chapter Gym, supporting Demelza.
Challenge 32 · Trident
Three endurance disciplines. 21.1km each on the SkiErg, rower and treadmill. Completed in 5h 44m.
Challenge 33 · My first ultra run
Three half marathons back to back. My first ultra run.
Challenge 34 · Eastbourne to Brighton
Leading a group along the Seven Sisters cliffs to Brighton. 44.16km · 8h 50m · 910m elevation gain.