THE Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro will be the starting line for an epic 270-mile ultramarathon by a dad looking to help his daughter who has cerebral palsy.

National Grid worker James Hotham was on holiday in Cornwall with partner Hannah when baby Frankie was born 28 weeks premature at Treliske. She suffered a brain bleed, had to be resuscitated, and was placed on a ventilator as soon as a heart rate was detected.

Now aged 4, Frankie has cerebral palsy, global developmental delays and autism, and is currently non‑verbal.

James, who works as a quantity surveyor for National Grid, will set off on Saturday [May 23] from Treliske to run an eight-day ultramarathon, averaging 31 miles a day and finishing at Worcester Royal Hospital in his home county.

He has three aims: to promote awareness of cerebral palsy; to raise £50,000 for Frankie to have stem cell treatment in the US and intensive paediatric therapy in London; and to encourage sign-ups to a petition calling for an end to the postcode lottery for cerebral palsy care.

“Frankie faces challenges every day that many of us don’t think twice about – moving, communicating, and exploring the world,” said James. “Despite this, she is the happiest and most resilient little girl, working incredibly hard every single day.

“She is the reason I and my three close friends - Will Duggan, Tom Ainge and Connor Davies – are taking on this challenge. I’ve been told Frankie may never walk independently, but I refuse to accept 'never' without exhausting every possible option.”

Months of early morning and evening training have taken James from running the occasional 5km to what he describes as the “unchartered territory” of taking on the ultramarathon.

“Training has been going well overall,” said James. “The biggest challenge so far has been managing training around family life, work and recovery — but that’s also what keeps me motivated.”

What started as fundraising for his own daughter has now grown into something bigger, including a call for a parliamentary review into a national standard of care for children with cerebral palsy . “I’ve spoken to many parents online who are facing the same postcode lottery and systemic challenges we’ve experienced,” said James. “I hope I can create change not only for Frankie, but for other children with cerebral palsy — now and in the future.”

Cornish eateries are supporting the cause. Anna Cornelius of Beach Box Cafe in Wadebridge. said: “We believe in backing our community and causes that truly matter. Frankie’s story really moved us, and if we can play even a small part in helping raise awareness and support her journey, it’s an easy yes for us to fuel the team.”

Pizziola Jono, from Pizza Cabina in Threemilestone, said: “We’re proud to support James and Frankie in their epic adventure. We’re starting them off on the right foot in Truro with some fine pizza to fill their bellies!”

Find James’ fundraising page at www.gofundme.com. The parliamentary petition must be signed before August 24, 2026 at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/757651.