Cure Leukaemia CEO James McLaughlin Completes Final Run The Nations Challenge

Cure Leukaemia Chief Executive James McLaughlin has crossed the finish line of his sixth and final Run The Nations challenge, completing an extraordinary 270 miles in 14 consecutive days without a single rest day, and travelling over 1800 miles in the process. This year’s run marks the culmination of a six-year fundraising journey that has seen James raise over £300,000, cover more than 1,000 miles, burn over 200,000 calories, and inspire countless supporters across the UK to join the fight against blood cancer.

Beginning in 2020, James launched Run The Nations, then known as Tour of the TAP, with a simple but powerful mission: to raise awareness and vital funds for Cure Leukaemia’s groundbreaking Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP). In his inaugural challenge, he ran 14km on 12 occasions to represent the 12 centres that formed the TAP network at the time. Since then, the challenge has grown year on year, reflecting the charity’s own national expansion.

Over the six years of Run The Nations, James has completed 38 marathons’ worth of running, forged lasting connections with patients and clinicians, and shone a spotlight on Cure Leukaemia’s mission to make innovative treatments available to blood cancer patients across the UK.

For the 2025 finale, James undertook his most ambitious run yet – covering 270 miles over 14 days, visiting the 29 Centres now forming Cure Leukaemia’s TAP, IMPACT and ATICUS Networks, which deliver pioneering clinical trials to blood cancer patients across the UK.

Reflecting on the journey, James said:

“When I first started Run The Nations back in 2020, it was simply about doing my bit to raise funds and awareness for the incredible work of Cure Leukaemia. I could never have imagined how it would grow – each year more people have joined me on the road, more stories have been shared, and more lives have been impacted. To have now run over 1,000 miles and raised more than £300,000 is something I’m immensely proud of. A huge thank you to all those who have donated across the years, and to the businesses who have supported and sponsored me including Lookers and LiveWell – without them the challenge would not have been possible. But the real reward has been seeing the Cure Leukaemia family come together and knowing these efforts are helping to accelerate treatments and save lives.”

James brought his incredible journey to a close at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), one of the 11 hospitals in the ATICUS Network, where he was joined by 20 runners, including patients, supporters, and clinicians such as Professor Persis Amrolia, for the final leg of his remarkable effort.

“James’s Run The Nations has been a brilliant way to drive both awareness and vital funding for Cure Leukaemia’s clinical trials network. These trials are essential to accelerating new treatments for blood cancer, and with Great Ormond Street Hospital now one of the 11 ATICUS Network hospitals, we see first-hand how this funding is making a difference for children and families. His dedication is truly inspiring and will have a lasting impact on patients nationwide.”

To continue the incredible legacy of Run The Nations, Cure Leukaemia has launched Move The Nations, a new campaign inviting supporters to get active during Blood Cancer Awareness Month. The goal is to collectively log 96,000 minutes of movement—one minute for each person expected to be diagnosed with blood cancer during the month—while raising £150,000 to fund life-saving clinical trials.

Supporters across the UK have already embraced the challenge with creativity and enthusiasm, taking part by walking 14,000 steps a day, cycling the circumference of the UK, dancing, gardening, and everything in between. Whether it’s a solo effort or a team challenge, every minute and every pound raised brings hope to patients and families affected by blood cancer.

Help Cure Leukaemia reach its goal of £150,000 and 96,000 minutes of movement this Blood Cancer Awareness Month.

Donate today at www.justgiving.com/campaign/movethenations2025

To learn more about Cure Leukaemia and how you can make a difference to blood cancer patients, why not join us at our Up Close and Personal event on Thursday 16^th October at The Montague On The Gardens, London. For more information and to register, visit https://www.cureleukaemia.co.uk/get-involved/events/up-close-and-personal-london/