Swansea business leader Ben Davies, owner of Belvoir Estate Agents Swansea, has completed an extraordinary year-long challenge to cover 2025 miles in 2025, raising £6,270 for local charity Faith in Families and exceeding his original fundraising goal of £5,000.
From the very beginning, Ben set out to do something bold. He wanted a challenge ambitious enough to raise awareness, spark conversations, and generate meaningful support for children and families living in poverty across Swansea. Twelve months later, that ambition has translated into thousands of miles, thousands of pounds raised, and a powerful example of what community commitment can achieve.
An Ambitious Challenge with a Powerful Purpose
Ben’s challenge saw him running, rowing, hiking and Wattbiking the equivalent of the Welsh Coastal Path, rowing the English Channel multiple times, and taking on major endurance events such as the Swansea Half Marathon and The Darth Coastal Challenge.
However, much of the challenge happened quietly. Early mornings, dark winter runs, and miles squeezed in before work became the norm.
“The word challenge is exactly that. It needed to be ambitious to capture attention, raise the profile of Faith in Families, and increase the amount of donations we could generate”
Throughout the year, Ben averaged an incredible 39 miles every single week. Along the way, he also discovered new running routes across Swansea and pushed through some serious physical and mental tests.
Key milestones included:
- A 20-mile training run
- Completing 100km in just 7 days, before starting work each morning
- Regular 5am runs, often in the rain and darkness
- Long-distance sessions shared with friends, colleagues and supporters
The Daily Grind Behind 2025 Miles in 2025
While the headline moments were impressive, Ben says the hardest part was the consistency.
“There’s no real downtime. When you miss a day, those miles get added on to the next week or month. It’s the unsexy stuff the discipline, the early mornings that’s the hardest.”
Injuries flared up. Fatigue built up. Motivation dipped at times. But Ben stayed focused by reminding himself why he started.
“Every mile I complete will result in donations for Faith in Families. That’s what keeps me going.”
Community Support and Local Businesses Power the Challenge
Ben’s achievement was not completed alone. Support from family, friends and local businesses played a huge role in keeping him going.
“People have been amazing and unbelievably generous. Daisy and the kids have put up with my mood swings when I’m literally running on empty!”
He also gave special thanks to Matthew Bound, who ran many miles alongside him, and to members of his BNI Waterfront chapter, who provided sponsorship, encouragement and camaraderie.
That sense of community became one of the most powerful outcomes of the challenge.
Why This Fundraising Matters to Swansea
Nearly 28,000 children in Swansea are currently living in poverty. Faith in Families works across the city to support families facing hardship through:
- Emergency food and fuel support
- Emotional wellbeing and mental health programmes
- Early years education and family support
- Safe, welcoming spaces known as Community Cwtches
The funds raised by Ben will help ensure children and families receive support when they need it most.
“Ben has put heart, soul, sweat and hundreds of hours into this challenge not for himself, but for the children of Swansea. His dedication will translate directly into meals, emotional support, safe spaces and opportunities for children who need them most.”
A Year of Grit, Heart and Impact
Faith in Families CEO Cherrie Bija praised the determination behind the challenge and its impact on the community.
“What Ben has achieved this year is remarkable. His perseverance shows what can happen when people choose to stand up for children who too often go unheard. The money raised will help us continue breaking the cycle of poverty, offering hope, security and brighter futures for families across Swansea.”
Ben now finishes 2025 having completed every mile he set out to achieve and having raised over £6,000, well beyond his original target.
Pushing Through Injury and Finishing Strong
One of the most significant moments of the challenge came right at the end. Ben had planned one final long-distance run but suffered an injury in the lead-up, leaving uncertainty over whether he would be able to complete it at all.
Rather than sharing the update immediately, Ben waited, focused on recovery, determined not to force the outcome.
Against the odds, he went on to complete an incredible 25-mile run from Mumbles to Briton Ferry and back, closing out the challenge in a way that perfectly reflected the resilience shown throughout the year.
The challenge also included unforgettable shared moments, including a 20-mile run from Pembrey to Mumbles alongside Matthew Bound, and the powerful sense of teamwork at the end of the 100km in 7 days challenge, completed by a group of supporters running before work each morning.
These moments captured not just the physical achievement, but the camaraderie, perseverance and community spirit behind every mile.
“There were times I wasn’t sure I’d make it to the end, especially with injuries. But I kept reminding myself why I started every mile meant more support for children and families who really need it.”
Get Involved
Ben’s challenge is a powerful reminder that when local people and businesses pull together, real change is possible.
To learn more about Faith in Families, support our work, or get involved in future fundraising challenges, visit:
👉 https://www.faithinfamilies.wales
Together, we can help children and families across Swansea build brighter futures.
