A firefighter from Boston recently completed an extraordinary 90-mile ultra-marathon around The Wash estuary to raise funds in memory of eight-year-old Billy Slater, the son of close family friends who passed away in December 2024.
Dad of four Leyton Hubbert took on the challenge to support The Sick Children’s Trust, the charity that provided Billy’s parents, Max and Jo Slater – who also live in Boston – with a place to stay at Magnolia House, a ‘Home from Home’ for families with a seriously ill child in hospital, while Billy was cared for at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Billy, who lived with a rare metabolic condition that required his protein levels to be carefully managed, was a bright, adventurous boy with a huge smile, a love of football and Lego, and a boundless zest for life. Despite his health challenges, he was always full of joy and energy, a memory that Leyton carried with him throughout the gruelling 90-mile endurance challenge.
“Billy was larger than life,” said Leyton, 35. “He faced more than most people do in a lifetime but did it all with a smile on his face. I thought about him so many times during the challenge, especially when things got tough. Remembering his strength and positivity kept me going.”
The route saw Leyton travel from the Norfolk seaside town of Hunstanton to Skegness in Lincolnshire, arcing around the vast Wash estuary. Battling fatigue, pain, and relentless coastal winds intensified by Storm Amy, the challenge took him just under 23 hours to complete. He was joined at the finish line by more than 30 family members and friends, including Max and Jo, who were there to cheer him home.
“It still feels a bit surreal,” said Leyton. “You can plan and talk about doing something like this but actually finishing it was an entirely different feeling.
“I’ve always been a runner, but this was on another level. It wasn’t just a physical challenge, it was emotional too. I wanted to do something that truly reflected how much Billy meant to us all, and the support The Sick Children’s Trust gave to his family when they needed it most.”
Leyton, who works for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service, had been training for months. Though a keen runner, he had never attempted anything on this scale. His preparation included completing the National Three Peaks Challenge earlier in the year, helping him to build both mental and physical resilience for long endurance efforts.
“I first thought about doing this route about three years ago,” Leyton explained. “I’d mapped it out on Google and told myself one day I’d try it. But I never really committed to it until Billy passed away. I was there at the funeral and just thought, this is it — this is my reason, my ‘why’. From then on, there was no backing out.”
Despite developing a knee injury during training, Leyton pressed ahead, relying on a small network of friends and family to meet him at checkpoints in King’s Lynn, Sutton Bridge, Fosdyke, Boston, and Wainfleet.
“The conditions were brutal,” he said. “For the first half I was running into a constant headwind. There were points where I was walking with poles and it felt like I was climbing uphill, even though it’s completely flat. But at the same time, it was a blessing because all I could think about was getting through it, not the pain or the miles.
“Seeing friends and family at the checkpoints kept me going, with [Billy’s dad] Max coming out early in the morning to meet me. Those are the memories that stay with me more than the long, hard miles.”
Billy’s parents, Max and Jo, said: “When Billy arrived at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, we were emotionally and physically exhausted. The team at Magnolia House welcomed us in the early hours of the morning, gave us a key to our own room, and showed us around. It immediately lifted such a huge weight off our shoulders.
“Being just minutes away from Billy’s bedside meant we could be with him at a moment’s notice. When he passed away on 28 December, we could leave without worrying about a bill or logistics. That kindness meant everything.
“When Leyton said he wanted to take on this challenge in Billy’s memory, we were so touched. Watching him cross the finish line was incredibly emotional. We were blown away to see he had raised enough to fund around 100 nights’ stay for families like ours. He’s a hero.”
So far, Leyton has raised nearly £3,500 for The Sick Children’s Trust, which will go towards providing more nights of free stays for families with seriously ill children in hospital.
Ann Wyatt, house manager at Magnolia House, said: “We’re so grateful to Leyton for taking on such an incredible challenge in memory of Billy. His determination and compassion are truly inspiring, and the money he’s raised will make a real difference for families who, like Max and Jo, need to stay close to their seriously ill child in hospital.
“It costs £40 a night to support a family in one of our ‘Homes from Home’, and with the cost of living rising, fundraising like this is absolutely vital. Thanks to Leyton’s amazing effort, we can continue to provide comfort, care, and a place to stay when families need it most.”
Image shows Leyton crossing the finish line, with colleagues from the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service following him home. Credit: The Hubbert family.
