The Nine Hospitals Ultra

Three inspirational local lads, Jamie, Dan and George are planning on running an ultra marathon on Saturday 16th May. They’re running 100 miles to support a bereavement suite at Darlington Memorial Hospital maternity ward. They’re calling it the Nine Hospitals Ultra!

Starting at Peterlee Community Hospital and visiting another 8 hospitals within the Trust along the way, they’ll continue running until they arrive at Darlington Memorial Hospital on Sunday 17th May.

Here is their story.

Running 100 miles to support a bereavement suite at Darlington Memorial maternity ward

On May 16th, the three of us — Jamie, Dan, and George — will attempt to run 100 miles in a single continuous effort, visiting all nine hospitals in the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

We’ll start at Peterlee Hospital on the coast and finish at Darlington Memorial Hospital. The finish matters, because this run is about supporting the creation of a bereavement suite at Darlington Memorial maternity ward — a dedicated, private space for families who experience the loss of a baby.

A bereavement suite offers calm, dignity, and time away from the noise of a busy maternity ward at an unimaginably difficult moment. This project is local, tangible, and deeply important.

The distance is deliberate.

Over the last 12 months, this has been a gradual build — not a one-off challenge:

January 2025: 50km (first ultramarathon)

March 2025: 50 miles

June 2025: 110km

May 2026: 100 miles — one effort, one day, one cause

This will be our fourth ultramarathon, and the final step in that progression. We wanted the hardest distance to be tied to something that genuinely matters.

This isn’t about speed or records. It’s about endurance, purpose, and using something difficult to support families who need care, privacy, and compassion at the hardest of times.

Every donation helps move this project closer to reality.

Thank you for reading, supporting, and sharing.

Our very own Dennis Duncan caught up with Jamie and Dan to find out what it’s all about. You can listen to the interview here .

To donate – visit their Just Giving Page