11/09/2026
Becky here - I want to shout a massive thank you to John. He was the brain behind bringing the backyard to Devon after taking part in a couple of BYU himself. He had one idea - set up a backyard that raised money for Bowel Cancer West. I met John about three months before that first backyard ultra and heard that they needed some help advertising the race. Coming from theatre and events management and not knowing anyone in Plymouth from relocating I jumped at the chance to help. That first year John wanted to also take part. So he set up the whole course on the day, with the old massive signs and tape, helped set up the gazebos (I think we lost one that year) and then started running at 6pm. We had just myself doing number checking and Mark ringing the bell plus our amazing sidekick Jen who also did first aid..Well that soon escalated into a fully fledged event with timing, proper sign ups, bespoke medals and technical t-shirts. The race has grown from 45 entries to 140, with people coming back every year to take part or crew and we've built a brilliant volunteer team. We have raised over £20000 for the charity and raised the profile of backyards in the south west. There's now a few to choose from.. none of this would have happened without John.
Sadly John has decided to hang up his race directors head after spending the last five years in a field with me and not his wife on their anniversary. I don't really have the words to sum up how special he is, always calm, coped with me and my ideas which even my husband struggles with .... 🤣 And even when we said never again on year 4, we were back again. I'm incredibly proud that he's entrusted me to look after his baby. He will still be involved in the background but not as the main man .
Can we all take a moment to say thanks and maybe he will come run it again instead...😍😍
