Congratulations to Simon Pearce from Chesham, who completed a 52km run and walk from Chesham to Oxford Children’s Hospital.

Eight hours after setting off in near-perfect weather conditions, Simon crossed the finish line at the Children’s Hospital, where he was greeted by his close family, friends and the charity team who had gathered to cheer him back.

Simon, who is Assistant Head Teacher at Chesham Grammar School took on the 52km route to thank the amazing team at Oxford Children’s Hospital who cared for his daughter, Thea back in April 2025, when she became seriously unwell. 

What began as an average cough and cold gradually got worse, and after seven days with no improvement, they were advised to take Thea to their local hospital for further checks.

After a week of being in hospital, Thea suffered a cytokine storm, a severe and overwhelming immune response. Her blood results deteriorated rapidly, and she needed to be transferred to Oxford Children’s Hospital for specialist care to identify and treat the underlying cause of her illness as quickly as possible.

Simon said, “Thea spent the following two weeks on the Bellhouse Drayson Ward, where she received exceptional care from an extraordinary team. From the doctors and nurses to the play specialists and catering staff, every single person played a part in helping us through an incredibly difficult time.

Following further investigation, Thea was diagnosed with a severe inflammatory condition, and treatment was finally able to begin. Thankfully, it proved effective. 

Simon went on to say: "The weather for the challenge was ideal, which made the distance more manageable, and was incredibly motivating to know that the effort was helping to raise a significant amount of money for an important cause.”

"Crossing the finish line and seeing my family waiting there was a particularly special moment. After such a long challenge, their support meant a great deal and made the whole experience even more rewarding.

"It was a tough but very fulfilling day, and I'm proud to have been able to contribute in this way."Claire Hughes from Oxford Hospitals Charity said, “We’re truly in awe of the challenge Simon took on, and incredibly grateful that he has chosen to support Oxford Hospitals Charity. He has already far exceeded his original target of £5,000, and is well on his way to reaching £13,000 — a remarkable achievement.”

To donate to Simon's fundraising page: click here