Football coach becomes first person to dribble a ball the length of Spain as he crosses into France
A football coach from the Midlands has made history by becoming the first person ever to dribble a football the entire length of Spain, and has now crossed into France with home firmly in his sights.
James Lewis, 26, from Rugeley, set off from Marrakech on 1 May and is now on French soil, more than 50 days into a challenge that has captured national and international attention. Over 1,000 people have donated to his JustGiving page, pushing him past £23,000 of his £100,000 target for St Giles Hospice.
It has not been easy. Running 30 miles a day, completely solo with a 15-kilogram pack on his back, James has faced wild dogs, wild boars, a rock fall that blocked his route and temperatures hitting 40 degrees in the last few days. He is now racing to reach home by 19 July, the date of the World Cup final.
James is doing it all in memory of his father, David Lewis, who was cared for at St Giles Hospice in Staffordshire when James was just 11 years old.
James said: “Reaching France feels like a massive moment. The last few days have been brutal, running in 40 degree heat with a football at my feet and a 15kg pack on my back. But I think of my dad and I keep going. I am not stopping until I am home.”
Elinor Eustace, Chief Executive of St Giles Hospice, said: “James reaching France is a truly momentous milestone. He has made history and he is now on the home straight. Every single one of the 1,000 people who have donated should feel incredibly proud. We cannot wait to see him home.”
This is not James’s first challenge for St Giles. He has previously run from Paris to Rugeley and completed a blindfolded running challenge, raising more than £55,000 for the hospice in total. This challenge is his most ambitious yet and he is showing no signs of slowing down.
To follow James’s progress and donate, visit www.justgiving.com/page/jameslewis26 or follow @jameslewisruns on TikTok and @xjameslewis on Instagram.
