Meet the founders
Ultra 4 Charity was founded and is run by three former Senior non-commissioned officers from the British Armed Forces with over 50 years’ service and multiple deployments between them.
Our Story
Foxy, Woody and Frenchy have all been affected by physical and mental wounds through their service. This is what has led them into supporting charities through substantial challenges. Each of them has found that physical fitness and the aim of demanding challenges has a huge positive effect on their mental health. Whilst also being able to support others that need the help and support of charities.
This has all led them to founding Ultra 4 Charity. They want to put on affordable but demanding ultra-adventures that will help to give people a goal to train towards and like-minded people to take on these challenges with. In order to raise awareness and much needed funds for some fantastic charities.
Foxy
Jason fox
Foxy joined the Royal Marines Commandos in 1992 at the age of 16. In 2001, he joined the Special Boat Service (SBS) After 20 years of military service and multiple deployments around the world, Foxy was medically discharged in 2012, having been diagnosed with PTSD.
Since leaving the special forces, Foxy has written multiple books, and stared in multiple TV shows, including SAS, Who Dares Wins. In his free time Foxy has taken on some massive challenges for charity. Including, Rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, Trekking to the North Pole and running 500km Arctic ultra-marathon as Project Fire and Ice.
Woody
Brian Wood MC
Woody served for 17 years in the British Army with the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment. He served on multiple tours in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. During his service in Iraq, he led the first bayonet charge in 25 years. For his gallantry in leading the bayonet charge in the Battle of Danny Boy and taking control of the situation during the ambush of his unit, he was awarded the Military Cross.
Since leaving the Army, Woody has established himself as a sought after public speaker as well as a successful author and business owner. In his free time, he has done multiple large challenges for charity. Including running 35 marathons in 35 days, running Marathon De Sables and a 500km Arctic ultra-marathon as Project Fire and Ice.
Frenchy
Richard French
Frenchy joined the Army in 1999 and served for 17 years in the Coldstream Guards and 3 Para. Trained early in his career as a sniper and later sniper commander, he deployed on eight operational tours and multiple training team deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia and Anti-poaching in Africa.
Frenchy was wounded by a Taliban grenade in Afghanistan and later in a military parachute jump whist working with the American 82nd Airborne. This led to his medical discharge from the Army. Since leaving the Army, he has worked and volunteered for multiple charities in both event planning and case working. In his spare time, Frenchy has run multiple ultramarathons for charity. Including 250km through the Wadi Rum desert and setting a new record running 100 miles wearing full body armour.
Our Ambassadors
Harry Mackarness
Ultra 4 Veterans
Harry Mackarness served ten years as a British Army Officer. After leaving the military, Harry stepped into a demanding corporate role in the defence sector before ultimately choosing a different path. He rebuilt his life around fitness, purposeful travel and helping others regain a sense of direction. Today he is a hybrid athlete, online coach and content creator known for tackling tough environments and talking openly about mental health.
Harry runs as the event’s Veterans Ambassador to raise money and awareness for the men and women who struggle long after service ends. He has lost friends to suicide and has seen first-hand how isolation, pride and silence can ruin lives. His mission is simple: show veterans they are not alone, champion the community that holds them up and use physical hardship as a way to reconnect people with themselves.