Running 4 Paws: Getting to the start!
On 3 August 2026 Lee Harker set off on a 4,500km running challenge across Europe to raise money for the Paws4ever project.
In this blog post, we talk about the journey he has already completed just to get to the start line, and get his own reflections on the eve of setting off on this challenge!
Remember to visit Lee’s Facebook or Instagram Pages for updates, and his GoFundMe Page to give a donation!
On the evening of the second of August, Lee Harker was relaxing in the back of his camper van, watching some football on his laptop and eating his bodyweight in pasta.
The following day he would set off on the adventure of a lifetime, running a marathon a day over a 4,500km route from the northern tip of Denmark to the southern tip of Spain - along the way raising huge amounts of money for the Paws4Ever project of the Paws Xaló dog charity.
But the more than one hundred days of running that are to follow form only one part of this epic journey.
Lee’s path to this point actually began in December 2023 when, inspired by the endurance exploits of “The Hardest Geezer” Russ Cook, he declared to a friend that he would one day run from Denmark to Spain, visiting dog shelters along the way.
Then, in 2024, Lee and his partner Fay began volunteering at the Paws Xaló shelter. Speaking to Jayne, our founder, he learned of her hopes to one day create a home for elderly dogs. This vision resonated so strongly with Lee that within a few days he had committed to Jayne to do all that he could to raise funds to make this dream come true.
And with that the Running 4 Paws adventure was born!
Next came the maps, and the spreadsheets, and the planning. So much planning.
And then came the training, as Lee braved the baking Valencian sun to put in the miles needed to prepare his body for what was to come.
All the while, the countdown clock was running, ticking off the days until the start of the adventure.
But the challenges weren't willing to wait until the running began - rather Lee was to get an early reminder that the success of this venture will come down as much to the logistics as they will to his ability to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
10 days before departure… Lee found himself in bed for days, feeling nauseous and dizzy
1 day before departure… The battery on Lee’s campervan failed, meaning that the long drive north had to begin with an hour drive south to get it fixed!
Only then was it finally time to set off on the drive north - marked by wrong turns and epic traffic, but also beautiful scenery and a growing sense of excitement.
Along the way, Lee picked up his parents, who are going to be driving the van and playing a critical supporting role for the first part of this adventure.
And so it was that Lee came to be, on the evening of the second of August, chilling in the back of his camper van at the northernmost tip of Denmark. Reflecting on all that he had already overcome just to get this far, and thinking ahead of the challenges to come once he begins running.
In his own words:
We’re officially at Grenen, just north of Skagen, the most northern point of Denmark and the starting point of Running4Paws!
Tonight is for food, relaxing and getting ready because tomorrow… it all begins.
This journey actually started back on 08/12/23 when I messaged my friend Hayley after being inspired by Russ Cook (The Hardest Geezer), saying I was going to buy a campervan, run from Denmark to Spain and visit as many dog shelters as possible along the way.
I’ve always believed your word means everything. If you haven’t got your word, what have you got?
To everyone who’s helped me get this far… Thank you.
And to my amazing Mrs,Fay Marie Nicholson… thank you for putting up with all my sh*t, believing in this crazy idea, letting me gamble our savings and staying home to look after our pack while I’m away. I genuinely couldn’t do this without you. I love you!
To everyone who’s donated, liked, shared or supported Running4Paws in any way… thank you. Every single bit of support means more than you know.
Tomorrow the excuses stop.
Now it’s time to do exactly what I said I was going to do.
From all of us at Paws Xaló, a huge huge thank you to Lee for taking on this challenge in aid of our charity. And a massive GOOD LUCK!!
Any support you can give - whether it’s a donation, sharing this page to other potential supporters or donors, or just cheering Lee on along the way - will mean the world to Lee, and even more to the dogs who will benefit.
Remember to visit Lee’s Facebook or Instagram Pages for updates, and his GoFundMe Page to donate!
