Mike's Polar Marathon is now live online at on-systems.co.uk/mpm and invites supporters to help him raise £250,000 for Garden House Hospice Care ahead of an incredible endurance event at the North Pole in April 2026.
In one of the toughest running events on the planet, local businessman and endurance runner Mike will be competing in the Arctic Polar Race that will see him complete the full marathon distance of 42.2 km in temperatures that could drop as low as –30°C. He will race on the drifting ice floes surrounding the Geographic North Pole, to which participants are flown by helicopter from the starting point.
“Hospices are an essential lifeline for so many families, yet they rely heavily on donations,” said Mike. “I wanted to create something bold enough to match the scale of what these charities do every day. Running on Arctic ice feels like the right test for that cause.”
Honouring lives and raising awareness
Mike’s mission is deeply personal, inspired by the loss of his best friend to pancreatic cancer and the care given to his colleague’s mother by Garden House Hospice Care. The charity provides specialist palliative care to people facing life-limiting illnesses across North Hertfordshire, Stevenage and nearby areas, supporting over 260,000 residents. It costs around £7.7 million a year to deliver these free services, with daily fundraising targets of £15,300.
A fundraiser built to involve the community
The newly launched campaign website offers insight into the challenge, details of sponsorship packages, and a link to the official GoFundMe page. Visitors can read about Garden House Hospice’s impact, follow Mike’s training updates and learn how local businesses and individuals can get involved.
Supporters are invited to:
- Sponsor the marathon by choosing from dedicated packages
- Donate directly online to help reach Mike’s £250,000 target
- Share the campaign across social channels to increase visibility
Visit the website to learn more or Sponsor now.
About Garden House Hospice Care
Garden House Hospice Care delivers vital palliative and end-of-life services across North Hertfordshire and parts of Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Its team includes doctors, nurses, therapists, counsellors and volunteers who together ensure patients and families receive tailored, compassionate support at no cost.
Press contact
Name: Mike Harvey
Email: mike.harvey@on-systems.co.uk
Website: https://on-systems.co.uk/mpm/
