Skip to main content
Shelter Logo
England

Thames Path Ultra Challenge

  • London to Henley
  • 12-13 September 2026
  • 100km, 72km, 50km, 25km or 10km - you choose!
  • Registration fee: £20 - £50
  • Fundraising pledge: £100 - £575
Sign up

Walk the Thames Path for Shelter and every step will help end the housing emergency.

You can walk, jog or run and choose a distance that suits you. From a 10km loop to a 50km hike or a 100km ultra marathon, there's a challenge for everyone.

Starting at Putney Bridge in west London, the route follows footpaths along the River Thames. Passing through Richmond and Hampton Court, you'll trek to the halfway point at Runnymede.

For those who want to push their endurance, the full 100km route continues through Windsor and along the riverside. Finally, you'll finish like a champion in the picturesque town of Henley.

Get sponsored, raise vital funds for Shelter and be part of the fight for home.

How to get started

1. Choose a distance that suits you, from 10km to an epic 100km. You'll need to reach a minimum fundraising target based on the distance you choose.

2. Sign up on Ultra Challenge's website. Select your distance and select Shelter as the charity you're fundraising for. You also have the option to join or create a team.

3. Get fundraising! You'll need to reach at least 50% of your fundraising target three weeks before the challenge.

Distance options

Full challenge: 100km

Registration fee: £50

Fundraising pledge: £575

Difficulty level: extra challenging

Three quarter challenge: 72km

Registration fee: £45

Fundraising pledge: £475

Difficulty level: challenging

Half challenge: 50km

Registration fee: £40

Fundraising pledge: £375

Difficulty level: challenging

Quarter challenge: 25km

Registration fee: £30

Fundraising pledge: £275

Difficulty level: medium

10km challenge

Registration fee: £20

Fundraising pledge: £100

Difficulty level: easy

What you'll get

A group of walkers on a bridge in London, with the sun rising in the background.

When you sign up to fundraise for Shelter, you'll get:

  • a Shelter T-shirt

  • fundraising advice

  • training tips

On the day you’ll get:

  • free food and drink at regular rest stops

  • full support, including medics, marshals and massage

  • a glass of fizz, a T-shirt and a medal when you cross the finish line

Other fundraising options

If you're unable to fundraise as much, you can also pay for all or part of your event place to reduce your fundraising target.

Mixed funding

Pay a higher registration fee, which covers half of your event place cost. Fundraising targets are lower if you choose this option.

Sign up for a mixed-funded place

Self-funding

Pay the full cost of your event place and fundraise whatever you can.

Sign up for a self-funded place

A group of four walkers hiking along the Thames riverside path. There are people rowing on the river and a view of London in the background.

How your fundraising helps

When you fundraise for Shelter, you're standing with people who face homelessness or unsafe housing.

Our experts provide advice and support through our emergency helpline, webchat service and face-to-face in local hubs.

Every mile and every pound you raise will help defend the right to a safe home.

  • £20 could fund a webchat, providing essential housing advice

  • £58 could answer two calls to our emergency helpline

  • £157 could pay for legal advice to help a family in crisis keep their home

Contact us

You can find further information about the Thames Path Challenge and frequently asked questions on Ultra Challenge's website.

If you have any questions, please email us at running@shelter.org.uk.

Similar events

See the Ultra Challenge calendar for a full list of events.