Tom York, a 24-year-old farmer and agricultural consultant who lives on the Cambridgeshire–Suffolk border, completed a gruelling 100-mile ultramarathon in Thetford Forest despite suffering a fractured foot partway through the race.
An endurance test with a purpose
York ran the Thetford24 endurance event on 11–12 July, covering the distance by repeating a 4.29-mile loop until he reached the full 100 miles within 24 hours. He undertook the challenge to raise money for the Farming Community Network (FCN) and to prompt discussion about mental health among farmers and men in rural communities.
"Crossing the finish line was incredibly emotional. The challenge had never just been about distance,"
He was supported throughout by his father, Rob York, who acted as his crew for the duration, ensuring he remained fed, hydrated and emotionally supported during the overnight event.
Personal background and motive
York has publicly linked his fundraising and awareness work to his own experiences. He experienced the loss of his mother to cancer at age five and later lost a close friend to suicide. He also described being singled out at school and, as a young adult, discovering he has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder after accessing counselling during university.
Those experiences, he says, informed his determination to speak up about mental wellbeing and to use the ultramarathon as a way to create conversations within farming communities, where stigma and isolation can be significant barriers to seeking help.
Race details and local ties
York lives near Newmarket and works for Wilson Wraight, a farm business consultancy based in Bury St Edmunds. He completed the event despite heat, darkness and acute exhaustion, describing it as the toughest physical and mental test he had attempted.
- Event: Thetford24 endurance race
- Distance covered: 100 miles
- Time taken: 24 hours
- Loop length: 4.29 miles per circuit
- Cause: Fundraising and awareness for the Farming Community Network
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Age | 24 |
| Total distance | 100 miles |
| Total time | 24 hours |
| Loop length | 4.29 miles |
York has described the physical pain — including running on a fractured foot — but emphasised the wider objective: to encourage fellow farmers and rural workers to speak about their mental health and where to find support. The Farming Community Network, the beneficiary of his fundraising, provides helplines and assistance tailored to the agricultural sector.
The event and York’s testimony underline ongoing concerns in Suffolk and neighbouring counties about mental wellbeing in farming communities, where long hours, financial pressures and isolation can worsen stress. Local services and charities continue to urge anyone affected to seek help early and to make use of specialist support networks.
