If Julian Goodwin ended 2018 feeling a little bit tired, there was a very good reason for it.

That’s because the 47-year-old covered an amazing 1,500 miles on foot, bike and in the water in support of his local hospice, Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice.

The Cheltenham funeral director was motivated to take on an incredible list of running, cycling and swimming challenges to raise funds for the hospice after seeing first hand the expert palliative and bereavement care it gives, as result of supporting local families through his own job.

Julian kicked off his yearlong fundraising and fitness challenge on the starting line of the London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April, running one of the world’s best marathons on one of the hottest London Marathon days on record, completing in five hours, 18 minutes, 19 seconds.

He followed this up on his bike with a 100-mile cycle ride in the iconic Ride London on 29th July then a two-mile swim in open water of the Thames in Swim Serpentine on 22nd September. This trio of challenges led Julian to completing one of the world’s greatest sporting challenges, the London Classic, which has seen Julian listed in the London Classics Hall of Fame.

Not content with completing the London Classic, Julian cycled 130km in Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court’s 30th anniversary Ride for Ryder on 26th June, completed the Outlaw Half Ironman Triathlon in May and the Bolton Full Ironman Triathlon in July.

He also took on the Cheltenham Half Marathon on 30th September for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, sporting an ‘Iron Man’ running suit in celebration of becoming an Iron Man himself.

The fabulous fitness feats has seen Julian raise an amazing £5,644.75 for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice which could pay for 297 hours of specialist and compassionate care.

Julian said: “What an epic year that was for me, I have enjoyed the challenges so much and the money raised is amazing. I hope it makes a difference to everyone at the Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice.”

Julian is a funeral director at Mason and Stokes in Cheltenham where he has been for the last eight years. Before that he was with his own family funeral business, working with his father and grandmother, and this September he will have reached his 30th year in Cheltenham looking after bereaved families.

“I have worked closely with Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice with my job for many years and I have always supported the hospice by attending Ride for Ryder and Starlight Hike,” he said. “I have also had friends who have lost loved ones who were cared for by the hospice.

“The hospice is a lovely place and it’s set in the most amazing grounds of the hills in Leckhampton. The care at Sue Ryder is brilliant, and we always hear wonderful reports from families who have had and lost loved ones in Sue Ryder.

“I know all the funds I’ve raised will help the hospice immensely, and provide support local families need at such a difficult time.”

Julian started triathlons in 2013 with the Cheltenham Triathlon Club and credits his training and competing for seeing him through his year of fundraising challenges in 2018.

So what does 2019 hold for Julian?

“I have to find a way to top last year’s challenges, so 2019 is going to be a year of fun and training and preparing for the 2020 season to start,” he said. “I will be planning what’s next, but definitely want to take on another Ironman Triathlon, London Marathon, Ride London and the Swim Serpentine. But there will be something more challenging along the way, something out of my comfort zone!”

To donate towards Julian’s fundraising total visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/julian-goodwin2.

Alternatively sponsorship forms are available in the Mason and Stokes office, Tudor Lodge, 54 Hewlett Road, Cheltenham, GL52 6AH.

For more information on Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice visit www.sueryder.org/leckhampton