A SOUTH Wales man who works for the British Antarctic Survey is currently taking on an epic challenge of running seven ultra-marathons, in seven continents, in just seven weeks – the youngest person to ever do so.
Morgan Thompson, who grew up on a farm outside Merthyr Tydfil and went to school in Cardiff, is raising funds for the Wales Air Ambulance.
The Charity needs to raise £11.2 million every year to keep its helicopters in the air and its rapid response vehicles on the road.
The former Aberystwyth student’s journey began with a marathon in Rothera in Antarctica. From there, he travelled to Patagonia in South America, New York in North America, Casablanca in Africa and Singapore in Asia.
He has two ultra-marathons left of his amazing challenge; he will travel to Sydney in Australia, before finishing at home in Wales.
Tenby was the only official race of the seven that Morgan took part in, as it was part of the Long Course Weekend yesterday (June 29).
Morgan said: “The challenge has been really amazing so far. Going from six months in Antarctica, where you mostly see the same faces every day, to busy cities full of traffic, noise and heat has been quite a shock to the system. Every environment has been completely different and my body is definitely a bit confused.
“But overall, things are going well. The legs are recovering better than expected, jet lag hasn’t hit too hard, and apart from a slight achilles niggle that I’m keeping at bay with some tape, I’m holding up alright.”
Incredibly, after reaching his original fundraising target of £4,000, Morgan now hopes to raise £7,000 for the all-Wales Charity. He has currently raised £5,420.
He added: “The amount raised so far has been overwhelming. I’m incredibly grateful for the support. Every single donation motivates me to keep pushing myself.
“What keeps me going is knowing I’m doing this for such a good cause. I want to prove that if you put your mind to something, you really can do it. Becoming the youngest person to run an ultra-marathon on every continent is also a strong motivator. But most of all, I don’t want to let anyone down.
“It really feels like so many people are behind me and that makes a massive difference when things get tough.
“It’s been a real privilege to represent such a worthwhile charity and to see how generous and encouraging people have been.”
Morgan, 23, who is currently working his first season with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) as a Station General Assistant at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica, said: “The idea started when I thought it would be pretty epic to run my first marathon in Antarctica. From there, I decided to go all in and turn it into something bigger – combining my love of travel, adventure, and pushing myself with raising money for a cause close to my heart.
“It’s been an incredible experience working down here, and I couldn’t take on this challenge without all the support from BAS.”
Morgan is grateful for the support he is receiving. He said: “It has been incredible. So far, I’ve had in-person support at every single run, with friends changing their holiday plans slightly just to be there and watch me suffer for a few hours.
“My parents even came out to Casablanca to support me, which was a great catch-up after being away for over seven months. Online has been just as overwhelming, with so many kind messages and support for the Wales Air Ambulance.
‘It sounds like there’ll be a good crowd at the final one in Tenby for the Long Course Weekend. I’ll be running an extra 8 km before joining the official marathon to hit the 50 km distance.”
Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.
It is delivered via a unique Third Sector and Public Sector partnership. The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.
This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
Reflecting on why he wanted to support the lifesaving Charity, Morgan said: “Wales Air Ambulance is absolutely vital. Growing up, I’d often see the helicopters flying overhead and be in awe.
“Over the years, friends and family have needed their services, and I’ve seen firsthand just how crucial it is to be able to reach remote parts of Wales. It’s a charity that serves the whole country and saves lives.
“That makes Wales Air Ambulance a charity I’m proud to represent.”
Christian Sullivan, Wales Air Ambulance’s Regional Fundraising Manager for South Wales, said: “Morgan is doing incredibly well with his epic challenge of completing seven ultra-marathons in seven continents in just seven weeks, all in aid of our lifesaving Charity, which we’re extremely grateful of.
“It’s a challenge that most people would shy away from but Morgan’s determination to complete his fundraiser, whilst raising much-needed funds for the Wales Air Ambulance is amazing.
“We’ve been following him through his journey and would like to thank everyone who is supporting Morgan. We’d like to wish Morgan all the best with the two remaining ultra marathons. You can do this, we’re incredibly proud that you’re representing our Charity!”
His fundraiser started on May 12 and ended on June 29. You can show your support for Morgan by donating to his JustGiving page (www.justgiving.com/page/morgan-thompson-2).
You can follow Morgan’s weekly updates via his Instagram page @run.ginge.
