CHARITY founder Emma Egging has completed a gruelling 33-mile ultramarathon to mark the tenth anniversary of the Jon Egging Trust (JET).

Dr Egging founded the youth charity following the death of her husband, Red Arrows pilot Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging at the Bournemouth Air Show in 2011.

At the weekend, after successfully taking on the ultramarathon along the Grantham Canal, she raised £12,199 for JET's work with vulnerable youngsters.

The run, one of ten 'epic challenges' Dr Egging will be aiming to complete this year, also launched the charity's national JET10 Virtual Relay, a national initiative to encourage teams of 10 from across the UK to jog, run or walk 10x10 kilometres to raise funds to support JET's next decade of work.

Dr Egging said: "It is definitely the hardest run I’ve ever done, but it was also hugely rewarding - hearing news of donations coming in as I ran really kept me motivated.

"In the past decade we’ve worked with over 30,000 young people across the UK.

"Young people are facing unprecedented challenge and uncertainty in the wake of Covid-19.

"Many of the students we work with have been affected emotionally and educationally.

"We’ve seen careers and further education dreams put on hold, exams cancelled, and anxiety for the future rise – we’re acutely aware of the mountain we have to climb to help youngsters recover from the impacts of the past year.

"At the Jon Egging Trust we’re more determined than ever to expand our programmes to support as many youngsters as we can to get back on track towards the futures they deserve."

Sunday's (April 18) ultramarathon started at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground stadium.

Emma was waved off by former Scottish football professional and Notts Forest ambassador John McGovern.

She was then joined by ex-Red Arrows leader and JET supporter Squadron Leader Martin Pert for the first 13 miles.

Thereafter, she was partnered by ex-Battle of Britain Memorial Flight boss Squadron Leader Duncan Mason, and JET patron, Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Smyth who ran the final ten miles to the finish in Grantham.

Visit joneggingtrust.org.uk/JET10 to donate to Emma’s epic events, or to learn more about the JET10 Virtual Relay.