Sphere Group Project Director Chris Hill is preparing to take on an 11-month, 14-event endurance challenge to raise funds and awareness for St Basils, the West Midlands charity working to prevent youth homelessness and support young people at risk of homelessness.

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Beginning on 15 November 2026 with the Alton Towers Half Marathon, Chris will take on a programme of running, cycling and triathlon events covering a combined 1,249km - 235km of running, 1,000km of cycling and 14km of swimming - before culminating in a return to Ironman Wales in September 2027.

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The challenge marks a return to both a familiar event and a cause that already means a great deal to Chris. In 2018, he completed Ironman Wales while fundraising for St Basils. Eight years later, he is heading back to Tenby, but this time with an 11-month programme of events forming the road to the start line.

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The schedule includes the Birmingham Half Marathon, Mallorca 312, The ROC Wales, Blenheim Palace Weekend Warrior, Long Course Wales and Ironman 70.3 Algarve, where Chris looks to qualify for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Chattanooga, before the final challenge at Ironman Wales.

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The campaign has already attracted strong backing from across the property, construction and consultancy sectors. Alongside Sphere Group, seven further Founding Core Partners - JRL Group, MGAC, SBK Consulting, Cadence Projects, Galliford Try,  Rodgers Leask & Couch Perry Wilkes - have committed their support from the outset, with further businesses currently in discussion.

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That early support has given the campaign significant momentum before the first event, with more than £2,000 already donated and around £10,000 pledged. The initial fundraising target is £20,000, but the ambition is to push well beyond that over the course of the challenge.

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St Basils works across the West Midlands to prevent youth homelessness and provide accommodation, advice and support to young people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or facing difficult circumstances. Its work is focused not only on providing immediate help, but on giving young people the support and confidence needed to move towards a more stable and independent future.

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Chris said: “I supported St Basils when I first took on Ironman Wales in 2018, and having returned to Birmingham it felt like the right cause to get behind again. The sporting side of this is deliberately tough - 14 events across 11 months, building towards Ironman Wales - but the real objective is to use that challenge to raise as much money and awareness as possible for young people facing homelessness.

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To have seven Founding Core Partners back the campaign before I have even crossed the first start line is hugely encouraging. They have given it a fantastic platform; now I want to build on that momentum, bring more people and businesses into the journey and see how far we can take the fundraising for St Basils.”

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Chris will document the journey throughout the 11 months through social media and video updates, sharing the training, events, fundraising milestones and the people and businesses supporting the campaign along the way.

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Individuals can support the challenge by donating through the campaign page, while businesses interested in becoming involved through event-specific sponsorship, matched giving or other campaign support can contact Chris directly.

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Donate to the St Basils challenge: https://stbasils.enthuse.com/pf/chris-hill

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