How far could you run in 24 hours?
From midday Saturday 27 June to midday Sunday 28 June 2026, Martin Blake who manages our Fire Alarms and Passive Fire departments will be taking on HAPR24 with a team of friends who love running.
Lap after lap of an 8km off road route through the Essex countryside at Cherry Orchard Country Park near Southend.
Through the heat.
Through the night.
Through the doubt.
HARP is Southend’s local homeless charity. Every year they support around 1,000 people across our town who are experiencing homelessness.
That’s 1,000 local people.
1,000 individuals needing somewhere safe to sleep.
1,000 lives that need stability and support.
As a Southend based Fire & Security company, Blake Fire & Security Systems has worked alongside HARP to help protect vulnerable people within the community. We’ve seen first hand how important safe and secure environments are for those rebuilding their lives.
This challenge is about going further.
Not just installing systems.
Not just maintaining compliance.
But actively supporting the people who make up our town.
We are aiming to raise £2,000 as an absolute minimum.
It’s an ambitious target.
But then again, so is running through the night.
Endurance running is part of the Blake story.
Our Managing Director, Ian Blake, has completed many marathons over the years, including an incredible 25 Paris Marathons.
For Ian, Paris became more than just a race. His mother’s side of the family were from there and although his father’s side were British, they also lived in the city. Running the marathon each year became a way to reconnect with family history and tradition.
Back in 2018, Ian ran the Paris Marathon alongside his son Simon, who heads up the Emergency Lighting department at Blake Fire & Security Systems.
Twenty five marathons.
Year after year.
That level of commitment says something.
Now it’s Martin’s turn.
Different challenge.
Same determination.
Click the banner below to donate
Southend businesses rely on each other.
We protect commercial premises, schools, care homes and organisations across the area. But security isn’t just about buildings.
It’s about people.
When local people face homelessness, it affects the whole community.
HARP works tirelessly behind the scenes providing accommodation, advice and long term support to help people rebuild their lives with dignity.
If running through the night helps fund that work, every mile is worth it.
We’d love you to be part of this.
If you can spare £5, £20 or more, you’ll be supporting life changing work right here in Southend.
Let’s show what our town can do when we pull together.
Help us turn miles into money.
Our target is £2,000 minimum.
Ambitious? Yes.
But then again, so is running for 24 hours.
Thank you for backing a Southend team supporting a Southend cause.
