Andy Cox, Detective Chief Superintendent at Northamptonshire Police, will run the equivalent distance from Crystal Palace in London, where the first ever fatal road collision in Britain occurred 130 years ago, to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
He plans to split the impressive 200km (124.3 miles) run across seven days, covering more than 28.5km – nearly 18 miles – each day, to raise money for Brake and highlight the “epidemic of people dying on the roads”.
Andy, who is from Berkshire and was formerly the Vision Zero road safety lead at the Metropolitan Police, said: “Having unfortunately met probably thousands of road victims and bereaved families, I’ve been with them at the darkest and worst moments.
“After seven days of running, I’ll be wrecked. But I’ll find a way to get through it and after a week or a month, I’ll be OK. These families will never be OK. This is nothing compared to their pain.
“We have this epidemic of people dying on the roads – by the time I’ve finished my challenge in a week’s time, 35 more lives will have been lost. I want to stop this happening but until it does, there’s a fundamental need for the support that Brake provides.”
It is estimated that 1,556 people were killed and a further 28,255 were seriously injured on British roads in 2025 – some 1,047 (4%) more than the previous year. Brake’s National Road Victim Service provides free, professional support for road victims and families, helping them to cope with their grief and navigate the complex practicalities that unfold after a crash.
Ross Moorlock, Brake’s CEO, said: “In 2025, Brake supported more than 3,200 people whose lives have been devastated by road crashes. We're so grateful to our amazing supporters who enable us to be there at the most traumatic time in people’s lives.
“Thanks to the dedication of people like Andy, we’re also able to carry on campaigning for road safety and working towards our vision of a world where nobody is killed or injured on the roads. Along with everyone at Brake, I’ll be cheering Andy on to the finish line!”
On day one (Wednesday 29 July), Andy got off to a flying start, despite picking up a niggling injury a few days earlier and the sweltering 33-degree heat. After notching up 20km in the morning, he took a well-earned rest and hydration break before tying on his trainers and forging ahead to complete 12 km in the evening.
Andy hopes his fundraiser will also shine a spotlight on a number of important road safety issues, including improved support for road victims, tougher penalties for offences like speeding, stronger licensing for young and newly qualified drivers, and better recording of data relating to the causes of fatal crashes.
“We need to raise our voices on road safety and demand meaningful change. These so-called ‘accidents’ are not accidents at all; they are preventable collisions. No loss of life on our roads should ever be considered acceptable,” Andy said.
“We must be ambitious in driving the changes needed to make our roads safer: changes in culture, changes in legislation, advances in technology, and a shift in public attitudes. Every life lost is one too many, and we all have a role to play in preventing future tragedies.”
Click here to follow Andy’s journey and support him.
If you'd like to take on your own fundraising challenge for Brake, click here to find out more.
Pictured above: Andy as he completed day one of his challenge, cheered on by Digger the dog.