A RUNNER from Cornwall is taking on 400 miles with 60,000ft of elevation, in aid of a cause close to her heart.

On September 29, Elsey Davis, from Camelford, kicked off her run to become the “world’s first” on record to complete this course.

The professional trail runner, who races for The North Face, is attempting to set the fastest known time (FKT) for a lap of Cornwall in a bid to raise money and awareness of Young-onset Alzheimer's after her mother received a diagnosis of the disease in 2023.

The 36-year-old is aiming to complete the challenge in a week, covering 100km a day, which she estimates will take her around 16 hours each day.

Due to the time of year, she is preparing to face unpredictable storms and winds of up to 60mph, with wet conditions posing a serious risk of skin breakdown.

Aware of the toll this challenge could take on her body, she said: “Anything could happen, but doing it for my mum is going to make it that bit easier.

“Originally, I wanted to run the whole of the southwest coast path but then a friend sent me the circuit of Cornwall FKT and the chance to loop around my home country appealed so much more,” said Elsey about the origins of the challenge.

“I wanted to do something big and scary, beyond anything I have ever done before since I have a strong driving force and reason - doing it for my mum and raising money for Alzheimer’s,” she continued. “I mostly feel excited for the challenge and making a difference the best way I can – with my feet so that anyone else going through this cruel disease, now and in the future, has better support and better treatments.

“And when the tough moments come on the run, and I am sure they will, I will remind myself of my ‘why’ and the fact that I am privileged to be able to do this.”

Elsey is also a recently qualified GP and lives with her wife and newborn son Victor in Cornwall.

She switched from road running to trail running during the COVID pandemic, and since making the switch, she has become one of the most dominant runners of the current generation with seven wins, 10 podiums and multiple course records.

“Physically this may be the hardest thing I’ve ever done but nothing’s as scary as my mum’s diagnosis, so I’m not really scared of the challenge – I’m excited,” she added. “The most I’ve ever run in one week is about 110 miles. I have a plan to do a certain amount each day, and the hope is to do it in less than seven, but I don’t know how I’m going to feel having never been in that position before.

“What the disease has taught me is that you must make memories while you can and live presently. I have faith that is going to get me round and doing it for my mum is going to make it that bit easier.”