A UK festival executive is undertaking a monumental feat of endurance, aiming to become the first person to run across India by completing 100 marathons in just 100 days.
From Festival Fields to 4,200km Run
Hannah Cox, the Sustainability Director for the renowned Kendal Calling festival, is now on day 40 of her staggering challenge. Her goal is to raise a monumental £1 million for the charity Project Salt Run. Remarkably, Cox only took up running a year ago.
Her 4,200-kilometre route is laden with historical significance. She is retracing the path of the Old Colonial Inland Customs Line, a brutal colonial barrier constructed to enforce a salt tax. This 'living scar' of thorny hedge once divided communities and profited from suffering. Cox's run seeks to rewrite that narrative, transforming a symbol of exploitation into a journey of connection and collective action.
"Ordinary People Can Do Extraordinary Things"
In a statement, Hannah Cox reflected on her journey and the support from the festival community. "I’m proud to have been part of the Kendal Calling family since 2011 and the Sustainability Director since 2022," she said. "This year we asked over 40,000 of you to ‘leave nothing but memories’ while I was training running loops round the festival site, terrified I was making a complete idiot of myself."
She credits the festival crowd with inspiring her bold endeavour. "If the Kendal Calling crowd has taught me anything, it’s that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they care. I only started running last year. Now I’m running 100 marathons in 100 days across India to raise £1 million for the people and the planet, and just completed Day 40. I can’t wait to be back in the fields with you all in the summer."
Supporting the Cause
The Kendal Calling festival is firmly behind its director's efforts, pledging to sponsor day 50 of her epic run. The public can support Hannah Cox's mission by making donations through her dedicated crowdfunding page. Her journey is not only a test of physical limits but a powerful campaign to turn a historical site of hardship into a modern force for good.
