DRM Conquers the South Coast Ultra Challenge for Mental Health
We are thrilled to celebrate an extraordinary achievement by Bill, Erin at DRM Clothing, who took on the South Coast Ultra Challenge in September to support Coventry, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire Mind.
This isn’t your everyday walk in the park, the South Coast Ultra Challenge is a 100km ultra that Bill and Erin and the team completed within 48 hours. From the training, the first steps under the bright morning skies to the final gruelling miles along Brighton seafront late at night, DRM’s journey was a testament to determination, resilience, and teamwork. Through pain, fatigue, and blisters, they persevered every step of the way.
Not only did they complete the challenge, but they also raised an incredible £13,000 for mental health services in our communities. These funds will help us continue vital outreach, provide essential support, and make a difference for people facing mental health challenges across Coventry, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire.
We are deeply inspired by DRM’s dedication, positivity, and willingness to push beyond limits for the cause of mental health. Their story is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when people come together with compassion, determination, and a shared goal.
We asked Bill and Erin what motivated you both to take on the South Coast Ultra Challenge for mental health?
Bill:
“We’ve done a lot of different challenges over the years, cycling, running but never walking. Walking wasn’t really something I enjoyed doing, maybe because I didn’t understand hiking in beautiful surroundings was a lot different to walking around your local town. The distance of this challenge was going to make it one of our toughest yet, moving at a slower pace and having to keep going when you could easily stop. As all of DRM’s work is based around mental health it will always continue to make sense for us to support CWW Mind, raise funds and awareness for mental health through the challenges we do.”
Erin:
“After years of fundraising for Mind and steadily approaching our £10,000 milestone, we wanted to take on a challenge that would truly inspire people to support the cause and contribute to that final push. Having already completed a skydive, various cycling events, and a marathon, we felt it was time to raise the bar even higher and an ultra marathon felt like the natural next step. With prior marathon training experience, we understood the level of dedication and commitment required to prepare for such an event. However, we also wanted to make this journey more inclusive, encouraging friends to join and share in the experience on training walks. Choosing a walking ultra marathon offered the perfect balance: it was more accessible, allowed us to explore beautiful walking routes across England and Wales during our training, and remained a formidable physical and mental challenge – enough, we hoped, to inspire continued generosity and support for mental health. We know that the economic climate means that many of us have less flexible income, so we knew this needed to be big,100km and plenty of elevation gain seemed appropriate.”
What was the most challenging part of the 100km journey, and how did you push through it?
Bill:
“For me personally, I was struggling towards the end of day 1. It was harder than I was expecting, which led me to worry whether I could finish it, I had to push those thoughts aside and get my head down to keep going. I think in those moments it’s about preparation and expectations, I knew I had prepared well for the challenge, having the evidence to back that up. I’ve always struggled with expectations of myself, I do find it hard to manage which just means I need to take on the added pressure. I sometimes use the gold (being the best outcome), silver, bronze (being something you’re still happy with) method, meaning I can still take some satisfaction from what’s happened.”
Erin:
“By the end of day one, after 15 hours of continuous walking, I genuinely wasn’t sure if completing the challenge was possible. My feet were covered in blisters, every step was painful, and the repetitive motion had left my knees and hips aching. I had developed a limp, and as we made our way along Brighton seafront late that Saturday night, even walking on pavement felt unbearable. We found ourselves searching for patches of grass, as the softer ground offered some brief relief. The prospect of waking up the next morning to face another ultra marathon distance, with minimal recovery, felt overwhelming. Yet I had made a commitment to myself, to those who supported me, and to everyone who had donated so generously to Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind. Quitting simply wasn’t an option unless I was physically stopped by the event organisers. That’s where the power of sponsorship truly comes in. When you’re exhausted, in pain, and questioning your limits, it’s the thought of those who’ve believed in you and contributed their hard-earned money that pushes you to keep moving forward and putting one step in front of the other.”
DRM Clothing has supported Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind for over 6 years now, how does it feel to have raised £13,000 and made such a meaningful impact on mental health in your community?
Bill:
“It’s great to have a partner like Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind, with great people and passionate about mental health, long may that continue. We are proud of our fundraising, we’ve worked with some great charities like Young Mindz, Hope4 and Trussell Trust to hit this but there is so much more we want to do.”
Erin:
“It fills me with immense pride. As a small business run by just the two of us alongside our full-time jobs, we often pour our evenings and weekends into DRM. At times, it can feel like our efforts are just a drop in the ocean. But when we take a step back and see that all those small fundraising events and initiatives over the years have collectively raised almost £13,000 for predominantly Mind CWW (and other causes such as Young Minds, Trussell Trust and Hope 4) it’s incredibly rewarding. That amount represents real impact, supporting vital resources and services for people who need them most in our local area. What makes it even more meaningful is hearing directly from Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind about how they intend to use the funds in our local community. It reinforces the idea that every contribution matters. Whether it’s £1, £10,000, or more, each effort adds up and can facilitate genuine change.
For us, that’s the driving force. We celebrate the milestones briefly, but our focus is always on what’s next – raising the bar, setting new goals, and continuing to make a difference. It might take time, but with persistence and community support, we know we’ll get there. Next stop: £25,000”.
A huge thank you also goes to everyone who supported the team along the way: sponsors, donors, friends, and family who cheered them on. Your encouragement helped make this remarkable achievement possible.
Congratulations, Bill and Erin on conquering the South Coast Ultra Challenge and making a lasting impact on mental health in our communities. You have inspired us all!
Want to get involved?
If this left you feeling inspired why not take the next step with us?
Whether it’s fundraising, mental health training for your workplace or exploring a corporate partnership, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at fundraising@cwmind.org.uk