Two men will visit Oxford Children’s Hospital while attempting to run 412 miles across Britain in nine days to support children with cancer and their families.
Matthew O’Connor and Joe Hughes are due to reach the hospital at the John Radcliffe on Friday 25 September as part of an endurance challenge raising money for The Azaylia Foundation.
The pair will stop at four children’s hospitals during the journey, delivering Jessie’s JoyJars filled with new, age-appropriate toys, games and activities for young patients undergoing cancer treatment.
At a glance
| Challenge | 412 miles across Britain in nine consecutive days |
| Runners | Matthew O’Connor, from Whitworth, and Joe Hughes, from Oldham |
| Dates | Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 September 2026 |
| Average distance | Almost 46 miles a day |
| Oxford visit | Oxford Children’s Hospital at the John Radcliffe on Friday 25 September |
| Other hospital stops | Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Birmingham Children’s Hospital |
| Charity | The Azaylia Foundation |
| Fundraising | The press release gives an overall ambition of £30,000; the live GoFundMe currently displays a £10,000 target |
| Donate | Visit the official fundraising page |
Oxford hospital visit planned for 25 September
Matthew and Joe are due to arrive at Oxford Children’s Hospital on the seventh day of the challenge.
The purpose of the stop is to deliver JoyJars for children receiving cancer treatment, providing toys and activities that can be used during hospital stays and appointments.
Oxford University Hospitals’ Children’s Haematology and Oncology Service is one of 20 principal treatment centres in the UK.
It diagnoses and treats children and young people with cancers including leukaemia, brain tumours and other solid tumours, with much of the care provided through Kamran’s Ward and its associated day-care service.
The Oxford visit has been announced by the challenge organisers. No public arrival time or spectator arrangements have been published.
It should not be treated as a public meet-up at the hospital. Anyone wishing to support the challenge should donate or follow the organisers’ updates rather than attending clinical areas, where patient privacy and the work of hospital staff must take priority.
Almost 46 miles every day
The runners plan to cover 412 miles between Saturday 19 and Sunday 27 September.
That works out at an average of approximately 45.8 miles each day, around one and three-quarter marathon distances daily for nine consecutive days.
The online fundraiser says Matthew and Joe have spent two years preparing for the challenge through early-morning runs, long-distance training and recovery from injuries.
Matthew said: “We know how hard this is going to be. But when you know who you’re doing it for, stopping doesn’t feel like an option.
“We are running for the kids who can’t, and every step is about making sure these families know they aren’t alone.”
A complete road-by-road route and daily timetable have not been made public. Supporters should not attempt to join the runners without first making arrangements with the organisers, particularly where the route uses busy roads or enters hospital grounds.
Hospital stops during the nine-day run
| Date | Planned stop | Stage of challenge |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 19 September | Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital | First hospital visit and beginning of the nine-day challenge |
| Wednesday 23 September | Great Ormond Street Hospital, London | Second JoyJar delivery |
| Friday 25 September | Oxford Children’s Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital | Third JoyJar delivery |
| Saturday 26 September | Birmingham Children’s Hospital | Final hospital visit |
| Sunday 27 September | West Midlands Safari Park | Finish at The Azaylia Foundation’s fifth-anniversary event |
The schedule and hospital visits remain subject to the runners’ health, weather, road conditions and operational arrangements at each hospital.
What are Jessie’s JoyJars?
Jessie’s JoyJars were created by Jessica “Jessie” Rees, a 12-year-old American girl who was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, commonly known as DIPG, in 2011.
Jessie began filling jars with toys and activities for other children receiving cancer treatment. Her idea developed into the work of the Jessie Rees Foundation and its message to “Never Ever Give Up”, often shortened to NEGU.
The jars contain new, age-appropriate items intended to provide encouragement and distraction during difficult days in hospital.
Matthew and Joe will carry and hand over JoyJars during their hospital visits. The Azaylia Foundation says the challenge will mark the first time the initiative has been brought to the UK.
That UK-first description comes from the organisers and should not be interpreted as meaning British hospitals have never previously received toys, activity packs or similar support from other charities.
What is inside a JoyJar?
The contents vary according to the age of the child but are described as including brand-new toys, games and activities suitable for use during cancer treatment or a hospital stay.
The jars are intended to provide a moment of enjoyment and encouragement. They do not replace medical, psychological or family support.
Why the pair are supporting The Azaylia Foundation
The Azaylia Foundation was established by Ashley Cain and Safiyya Vorajee following the death of their daughter, Azaylia Diamond Cain.
Azaylia was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia and died in April 2021 at the age of eight months.
The registered charity supports families navigating childhood-cancer treatment and funds work intended to improve diagnosis, treatment options and long-term outcomes.
Its current programmes include treatment-pathway grants for eligible families, a family-support platform, advocacy and research funding.
The Foundation says its treatment grants are developed with children’s hospital charities and clinical teams and can help families explore compassionate, off-label or overseas treatment where standard options have been exhausted and specialist clinicians support the application.
It also says it has funded research projects focused on earlier diagnosis and more effective childhood-cancer treatments.
Dominik Byrne, Chief Executive of The Azaylia Foundation, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Matthew and Joe for taking on this phenomenal challenge.
“The awareness and funds raised from these extraordinary efforts are what allow us to continue making a difference, funding treatments, backing pioneering research and being a pillar of support for families navigating childhood cancer.”
Run will finish at fifth-anniversary event
The pair are scheduled to complete the challenge at West Midlands Safari Park on Sunday 27 September.
The finish will coincide with an event marking five years of The Azaylia Foundation’s work.
The announced programme includes live music from Sol and the Gang and Jason Allen, a mural painted during the event by Mr Murals and family entertainment.
The anniversary celebration is a separate event with limited capacity. Anyone considering attending should use information published directly by The Azaylia Foundation rather than assuming entry is included through the fundraising page.
Fundraising target needs clarification
The challenge announcement states that Matthew and Joe hope to raise £30,000.
However, the linked GoFundMe page was displaying a £10,000 target when checked on 9 September.
This may represent an initial online milestone within a wider fundraising ambition, or the page may be due to be updated. The organisers have not explained the difference in the published material.
The live page should therefore be treated as the authoritative source for the current amount raised and its online target.
GoFundMe identifies The Azaylia Foundation as the beneficiary of the campaign. The Foundation is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales under charity number 1195195.
How to support the challenge
| Donate | Matthew and Joe’s official GoFundMe page |
| Charity information | Visit The Azaylia Foundation website |
| Hospital visit | The Oxford handover is not currently advertised as a public event |
| Follow the journey | Use updates published by the runners and The Azaylia Foundation |
Frequently asked questions
Who is running 412 miles?
Matthew O’Connor, from Whitworth, and Joe Hughes, from Oldham, are attempting the nine-day endurance challenge.
When does the run take place?
It is scheduled to begin on Saturday 19 September and finish on Sunday 27 September 2026.
How far will they run each day?
The average is approximately 45.8 miles a day, although the distance may not be divided equally between each stage.
When will they reach Oxford?
The organisers say Matthew and Joe will visit Oxford Children’s Hospital on Friday 25 September. An exact arrival time has not been published.
Can members of the public attend the hospital visit?
The Oxford stop is not currently advertised as a public event. People should not attend hospital wards or clinical areas unless invited.
Which hospitals will they visit?
The planned stops are Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Oxford Children’s Hospital and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
What are Jessie’s JoyJars?
They are containers filled with new, age-appropriate toys, games and activities intended to encourage children undergoing cancer treatment.
Who created the JoyJars?
They were created by 12-year-old Jessie Rees after she was diagnosed with DIPG in 2011. Her idea became part of the continuing work of the US-based Jessie Rees Foundation.
What is The Azaylia Foundation?
It is a registered childhood-cancer charity founded by Ashley Cain and Safiyya Vorajee after the death of their daughter, Azaylia Diamond Cain, in 2021.
What is the fundraising target?
The press release states an overall target of £30,000, while the live GoFundMe page currently displays £10,000. Readers should check the fundraising page for the current target and total.
Where will the run finish?
The challenge is due to finish at West Midlands Safari Park during The Azaylia Foundation’s fifth-anniversary event on Sunday 27 September.
Where can people donate?
Donations can be made through the official GoFundMe campaign.
