During his charity run from Manchester to the Netherlands, one thought kept Raja going: that every mile was raising funds and awareness for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Olive Branch Fostering.

On August 21, the dad of eight – four birth children and four foster children – set off from Manchester bound for The Hague. Raja is born and raised in the Netherlands and moved to Manchester when he was 10. He picked the route as a symbol of how far he’s come.

Every day for nine days, he ran the distance of a half marathon, and raised over £7,800 for the DofE.

Raja says: “I’m passionate about supporting causes that help people grow and thrive. Both DofE and Olive Branch empower individuals, whether it’s young people building life skills or families receiving crucial support. That really motivates me.”

‘I wish every young person could experience DofE’

During such a gruelling challenge, staying motivated is crucial. As Raja ran the whole 130-mile distance solo, there was no one beside him to encourage him or push him on.

“I was very lonely at times where I pulled my phone out and listened to voice notes from my children or read out messages that kept me motivated and encouraged me to do better,” he admits.

“Thinking of the young people and families supported by these charities pushed me through the tough moments.”

Raja believes in building confidence, communication and helping young people get outdoors. Over the last five years, he has raised over £25,000 for several youth-focused charities.

His Manchester to The Hague run for the DofE has even earned him a nomination for the 2025 JustGiving Awards.

He says: “I chose DofE because of the incredible impact it has on young people. It helps them build resilience, confidence, and leadership skills things I wish every young person could experience.

“Now the amount I have raised will give children out there an opportunity to access the DofE programme.”

Pure excitement, exhaustion and huge sense of pride

Raja believes doing the DofE gives young people the chance to step out of their comfort zone, develop essential life skills and build confidence that stays with them for life.

Not unlike doing a DofE, his run definitely pushed him outside of his own comfort zone at times.

“It really tested my endurance and mindset, but it has definitely taught me a lot about myself. I feel more strong minded, confident and physically powerful,” he says.

“There were moments of pure excitement, times I felt exhausted, and a huge sense of pride crossing the finish line knowing it was for such a good cause.”

After finishing his incredible feat, Raja hasn’t taken much time to rest. His fundraiser is still going, and he did the Great North Run on 7 September.

Now Raja’s taking some well-deserved time to recover before lacing up his trainers again for the Manchester half marathon in October.

If Raja’s story inspired you, why not take part in one of our Challenge events to raise vital funds for the DofE charity?