King Charles heads to John O'Groats for 40 days of songs and marathons
Caithness residents will be well aware of his namesake visiting the Castle of Mey but this Charles is an acclaimed musician who is heading to Caithness for a gruelling challenge.
King Charles’s ever-evolving career has seen the singer-songwriter amass over 100 million streams, but the musician is about to embark upon a very different challenge.
On July 25, he’ll start The Feel Good Jogle – a 1782km run taking him from John O’Groats to Land’s End in an attempt to raise £100,000 for the youth and community charity Regenerate. And his already gruelling test encompasses another unusual factor – he will play a live show every day.
In short, the musician will be completing 40 marathons and 40 gigs in just 40 days. The journey has been mapped out to take Charles through some of the most striking natural scenery within the UK.
King Charles, real name Charles Costa, commented: “I’m so excited about this challenge. The work of Regenerate is so real and the stories I’ve heard of lives being changed are beautiful. What they do is particularly important now, as the last 18 months of lockdown and isolation have been a feeding ground for anxiety, loneliness and depression.
"I’ve wanted to take this on for some time because I believe in running. I love the rhythm of feet hitting the road and the effect that that has on the mind. Running has always helped me find an escape when I’ve felt trapped and isolated. And all you need is a pair of shoes and a running buddy to get you moving. I can’t wait to see how Regenerate propel people into action as they always do and to see this journey unfold.”
Aside from supporting Regenerate, The Feel Good Jogle aims to spark conversation, to both encourage people to share their problems, and to change preconceptions around mental health issues. It is something Charles feels passionately about, having experienced psychological issues following a serious accident in 2010. The longer-term impact of his trauma affected the parts of his brain which controlled his inhibitions and emotions, and it wasn’t until 2018 that he was discharged.
The run also represents a metaphor for connection, in which Charles hopes to build a chain of positive change that spans the entire country.
King Charles released his debut album LoveBlood almost a decade ago, having risen through the same modern folk-inspired London underground scene as Mumford and Sons, Laura Marling, Noah and the Whale and Johnny Flynn. His second album, 2016’s Gamble For a Rose was a more ornate, reflective affair. Yet all throughout his early rise, he kept the aftermath of his accident underwraps until 2018, when he began to share his story within the Out Of My Mind album.
After leaving John O’Groats, Charles will travel the length of Scotland to visit Ben Nevis, continue through the Pennine Way, touch the Brecon Beacons, cross the River Severn, and then follow Cornwall’s northern coast before ending the journey at Land’s End. Each day will see Charles perform in a setting that will be improvised from where he arrives. It could be on the side of a mountain, next to a lake, or in a local pub.
He will be joined at various points by friends and members of the Regenerate community, running both in person and virtually. The challenge will be documented throughout on the King Charles and Regenerate social media channels.
Regenerate inspires and supports young people by helping them build strong relationships and creating life changing opportunities; helping them grow in confidence; and helping them make the best of their lives and impact the world for good.
King Charles will release a new single called 12345 early in the adventure and will follow this with a UK tour. More information is available on his website at www.kingcharlesmusic.com/