Three military legends, adventurers, and TV personalities – Jason Fox “Foxy”, Brian Wood MC “Woody” and former sniper Richard French “Frenchy” – have launched a new cost-effective way for the public to run ultra marathons and raise money for charity.
The new race series will kick off with a desert ultra run in Tunisia from the 24th to the 27th of October 2025, where participants will run alongside Foxy and Woody over a 25k, 50k or 100k distance, finishing at the location of the Star Wars movie set, Mos Espa.
With race spots being limited to 300, the event will take runners across the sand dunes and rocky scrubland of the Sahara Desert with temperatures expected to reach 35 degrees.
“Between us we have over 50 years’ experience in the military and understand the mental health benefits of demanding challenges,” said Jason Fox. “So together we wanted to combine the chance for people to push themselves with raising money for vital military charities, in an easy, cost-effective and safe way.
“I couldn’t just sit back and let everyone else take on the run, so me and Woody will also be joining in the first race!”
Brian Wood MC is a highly decorated former British Army soldier, renowned for his extraordinary bravery and leadership during his military service. He is also an author and the subject of BBC TWO’s factual drama Danny Boy.
He added; “We are always looking for ways to help and support veterans and felt that an affordable but demanding ultra-adventure will not only give like-minded people a goal to train also raise awareness and funds for some amazing charities.
“We are asking for each participant to raise a minimum of £750 for the nominated charities, Head Up, REORG, Team Forces and Not The Forgotten. If everyone does that, we would be raising nearly a quarter of a million pounds at each event.”
The inaugural run in Tunisia this October takes place in and around the city of Tozeur, the main city of the Djerid, a region situated in the South West of Tunisia.
The inclusive format has relaxed cut offs at check points meaning all distances are achievable for runners and walkers.
Principle race director, Richard French, served as a sniper in Iraq. His 17-year Army career spanned Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan, before being medically discharged six years ago after being blinded in his right eye from a grenade in Afghanistan and later sustaining injuries in a military parachute accident.
He added; “The region is well known for its stunning rocky mountains, valleys, salt lakes and desert dunes.
“The area of the Djerid has been the background of famous movies – with the event finishing at the iconic film location where Star Wars was filmed.”
Jason Fox added; “I hope this is not just transformative for the charities we are supporting but also tests those joining us on the run.
“Can’t wait to join everyone at the start line ready to take on this beast of a challenge.”
For more information, visit www.ultra4charity.com or contact the race director at [email protected]
Registration fee for the Tunisia Desert Race is: £250-£300. Fundraising minimum: £750. You must reach this fundraising target to take part in the event.
The team includes:
Jason “Foxy” Fox, a former Royal Marine Commando who joined the SBS, later turned TV personality who has taken on other ultra-challenge events like kayaking the length of the Yukon River in 2019, also known for the Channel 4 television series SAS: Who Dares Wins;
Brian Wood MC “Woody”, a former soldier in the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment who was awarded the Military Cross in the Battle of Danny Boy, a famous 2004 battle in Iraq that was adapted for the BBC Two miniseries Danny Boy.
Richard “Frenchy” French, served as a sniper in Iraq, fighting the Mahdi Army. He was inside a Warrior armoured vehicle attacked by a petrol bomb-throwing mob in a riot that made global news. His 17-year Army career spanned Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan, before being medically discharged six years ago after two incidents left him blind in his right eye from a grenade in Afghanistan, then a military parachute jump ended his career.
