Matt Davies, Technical Lead at Aico, will take on an ‘insane’ office-to-office run along Offa’s Dyke, raising funds for the EIC, StrongMen, and inHope.
In the early hours of Wednesday 6 May 2026, Matt Davies, Technical Lead at Aico, will set off from the company’s Bristol office on one of the most gruelling personal challenges of his life: running 215 kilometres, non-stop, to Aico’s headquarters in Oswestry to raise funds for three charities. Powered by 16 weeks of training and a fierce determination to push his limits, Matt is aiming to complete the route in under 48 hours – arriving in Oswestry on the Friday.
The route traces part of the historic Offa’s Dyke path through England and Wales, covering around 4,500 metres of elevation (over half the height of Mount Everest) whilst running the equivalent of 5 back-to-back marathons! Spanning over 40 hours of running and hiking, the challenge is one Matt himself describes as his ’biggest challenge yet’ – though his training speaks for itself: since 1 January he has clocked over 1,050km in preparation, averaging 9.5km every single day.
“Endurance sports have always been my hobby; I love pushing myself to achieve more and go further.” –Matt Davies, Technical Lead, Aico
A Team Effort
Oliver Barlow, National Account Manager at Aico, will join Matt for the final 50 kilometres, and a dedicated support vehicle will accompany him throughout. Colleagues Adam Taylor-Drake, Chris Jones, Simon Flint, and Billy Mellis are all heavily involved in the logistics: managing food, rest stations, and foot care to keep Matt moving.
When asked what he expects to be the hardest part, Matt doesn’t hesitate:
“Definitely the sleep deprivation. I have done multi-day challenges before but never on such little sleep. I’m relying on an awesome support team to help me with food, mini-sleep stations and foot bandaging!” – Matt Davies
Running for Three Great Causes
Matt is running to raise funds for three charities, each chosen for the meaningful work they do:
- EIC – Supporting the people and families in the electrical trade that keep our industry alive.
- StrongMen – A charity focused on supporting men following bereavement.
- inHope – Working with people experiencing homelessness and poverty across Bristol, providing outreach, emergency help, housing support, and mental health services.
Donations can be made through the central team page: click here to support Matt’s challenge.
“These kind of distances and training blocks are life-changing! Keep a positive mindset in training and on race day. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.” – Matt Davies
All of us at Aico wish Matt the best of luck on Wednesday.
