Northampton Saints' head of commercial operations Brian Facer, team manager Paul Shields and EPDG manager Ross Stewart are heading north next summer to take on The Wall.
Facer is no stranger to a yearly challenge, having ridden L'Etape du Tour with director of rugby Jim Mallinder. Both Shields and Facer have also successfully London Marathon, with Stewart conquering the 2011 Bedford triathlon, but the trio are taking on a bigger task this summer - a cross-country ultra marathon between Carlisle and Gateshead.
The Wall follows the route of Hadrian's Wall, so not only is there the distance to cover, but also the Cumbrian and Northumbrian terrain to master. The ultra marathon will take in on-road and off-road sections that include a UNESCO world heritage site and Northumberland National Park.
The 69 miles have to be covered in no more than two days between June 22nd and 23rd, 2013, but our intrepid trio will be aiming to run from coast to coast in 24 hours.
In its short life The Wall has become one of the most popular and aspirational events of its kind in the country, and the Saints will be running to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care, a charity dedicated to the care of people with terminal cancer and other illnesses. In 2010/11 the charity reached nearly 32,000 patients and conducted wide ranging research into the improvement of cancer care and the elimination of the disease.
To show your backing for the Saints' Wall Challenge visit www.justgiving.com/Ultrawall or send your donation to the club, FAO Brian Facer.
For more information about The Wall, visit www.thewallrun.com
