British singer-songwriter Jack Cullen is set to undertake an extraordinary endurance challenge, running from Berlin back to London after completing his European tour. The 30-year-old artist will cover the equivalent of 22 marathons in 22 days, with each day involving an ultra marathon—a distance exceeding 26.2 miles. The total journey from the German capital to London spans just over 700 miles.
The Challenge
Jack Cullen will begin his gruelling fundraising run on Friday. Upon reaching London, he will take the stage at a venue in Hackney to conclude his tour in front of hundreds of loyal fans, friends, and family. Speaking to the Mirror, Cullen admitted the preparation has been far from ideal: “There’ll be pain, chaos, laughter and probably an unhealthy amount of bakery stops along the way. I basically can’t wait to eat an extreme amount of doughnuts!”
He added, “The preparation for this adventure hasn’t exactly gone to plan — I tore a ligament in my ankle a few months out, so compared to previous challenges I’m going in pretty blind. But honestly, that’s part of what excites me. It feels like a real adventure.”
Route and Support
Cullen’s brother mapped the route from his gig in Germany back to London for his show on June 12th. He will be accompanied by his best mate and sister as crew, with only the miles ahead. “I’m doing this to step away from the noise a bit, reconnect with myself, and hopefully come back inspired to write new music. Movement and music have always been the two things that help me feel grounded, which is why I’m also raising money for Mind alongside the challenge,” he explained.
Background
Jack Cullen, originally from Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, is signed with Sony RCA label and is currently playing a string of sell-out gigs. After each day’s running, he will stay at campsites and small hotels to prepare for the next day’s challenge. A former professional rugby player, Cullen turned to songwriting after a career-ending injury, building a following through live performances and endurance projects.
In May 2024, he released his debut EP ‘12’ while completing 12 marathons in 12 days to raise funds for cancer research. That challenge drew significant public support and helped establish his audience, directly leading to his breakout single ‘All I Need’.
Cullen followed his TikTok success with a 650-mile cycle from Edinburgh to Glastonbury Festival, performing impromptu sets in locations ranging from run clubs to yoga studios and cold-water groups along the route, before making his festival debut to a packed crowd and national media.
He also won international rugby honours at age group level, including three Ireland U-18 club caps, two Ireland U-19 caps, and nine Ireland U-20 caps. He played for his local club Bishop’s Stortford before joining Saracens academy, Irish Exiles, and Munster.
