Among the sea of Sweaty Betty leggings, Hoka trainers and discarded Gail’s cups at Reigate’s bustling Park Run, one runner stands out. A hat, adorned by 200 handmade poppies and a mesh trail, floats above the expanse of comparatively plain heads.

This runner is Jule Harries, a local teacher, running her 31^st Park Run of 100 to raise money for Surrey Young Carers.

Each week, Harries spends up to 18 hours crafting a new headpiece in line with current affairs for the weekly Park Run. From poppies to an effigy of her border collie, Harries ‘The Hat Lady’ is certainly turning heads. She said: “As it’s Remembrance Weekend, I made a poppy hat. It’s the Bake-Off final coming up, so for that I’ll probably make a huge chef’s hat.” 

Having raised just over £1,000 for Surrey Young Carers, the real power in her fundraising lies in the conversations her hats inspire.

Mike Coveney, a regular Park Runner, said: “The first time I saw Jule, she had a giant Rubik’s Cube hat - I had to ask her what she was doing. She explained the work of Surrey Young Carers, and I donated. Her hats really get people talking and asking questions.”

While Harries’s hats speak for themselves, her fundraising efforts have been the talk of the town. Barbara Cormie, Communications Manager at Surrey Young Carers, said: “Jule’s challenge is so bonkers that everybody wants to know what she’s doing. The money Jule raises will help our team reach and support more young carers in the area. But beyond that, it’s the publicity that makes such a difference.”

With her most intricate hat requiring 18 hours to make, and a fundraising goal of £5,000, Harries said her challenge will take over two years to complete. Having already completed 100 cold-water swims each in a different hat in 2022, Harries said next up is 100 bike rides. She said: “Once I’ve done that, I will have completed 100 triathlons.”