A fitness challenge that began as a sibling pact is marking its 13th year by raising funds for the Neonatal Unit at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.
Ben, Atlas and Roxy, who benefited from the RUH’s neonatal services | Photo courtesy of the RUH
The Mad March Mile was launched in 2014 when siblings Sean and Gretchen decided to motivate each other to stay active, mentally and physically, by running a mile every day throughout March.
Fourteen friends joined them, and the idea quickly grew into an annual community challenge.
Now, around 300 people take part each year, committing to a daily activity during March that takes roughly the same time as running a mile – around 15 to 20 minutes.
Participants can choose any activity, as long as it matches the time and effort of a mile run.
Each year, Sean and Gretchen pick a local charity to benefit, and in 2026 the money raised will go to the RUH’s Neonatal Unit (NNU). Sean chose the cause after both his son Ben and grandson Atlas received care in the unit, in 1989 and 2025.
Sean and his wife Fiona were 21 when Fiona went into labour at six months pregnant in April 1989.
They had not yet attended antenatal classes and, as Sean describes it, were “blissfully unaware” of what a premature birth involved.
Ben was born weighing just 2lbs 2oz. Sean recalls that he was “blue, silent and motionless”, and that a doctor placed him under a heat lamp before using a small air pump to carry out mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Sean remembers the doctor shaking as he saved Ben’s life.
At the time, there were no overnight rooms for parents at NNU, so Sean and Fiona travelled from Trowbridge to the RUH three times a day to visit. Ben improved steadily and was discharged two months later when he reached 4lbs.
After taking their son home, Sean remembers an unexpected moment at a motorway service station: “We had to get out of the services because it was like we were super stars.
“Everyone wanted to see this little baby, a 4lbs baby, ridiculously small, and this is twice the size than when he was born!”
More than three decades later, Ben became a father and his son Atlas was born six weeks premature, weighing 6lbs 3oz. Sean says visiting NNU again brought back powerful memories.
“The smell of the hand sanitiser reminded me of 36 years ago, going in there every single day. It’s so emotive and I couldn’t even go in to see him for a bit; I had to sit down and gather my thoughts because of this hit back on my emotions.
“The shock hit me like an explosion.”
Atlas spent 11 days in the unit and is now home, fit and healthy.
Sean said the changes since 1989 were striking, with modernised facilities and space for parents to stay, adding: “The technology developed over those 36 years is unbelievable… it’s a fantastic facility.”
As part of the fundraising, every Mad March Mile participant receives a personalised mug made by White Horse Pottery in Westbury, which has produced mugs for the event since it began.
The pottery will also host a 24-hour “pottery throw down”, offering 20-minute slots over a full day for people to throw a pot or bowl in return for a donation to the Neonatal Unit.
People can sign up to take part in Mad March Mile 2026 at https://www.entrycentral.com/MMM2026.
