Story
Last year, I cycled from Lands End to John O' Groats, climbing the national 3 peaks enroute and carrying all my kit on a very slow and very heavy bike.
This year, I wanted more of a challenge, so I've once again agreed to do put my body through an ordeal for Wesley's Wish. So the plan, I will be doing a series of progressively harder events. Hopefully my suffering will raise some more funds and we can reach the grand total of 100k by 2015.
Challenge 1:
A 20km half marathon along the coast of Northumberland. Going along trails, beaches and up sand dunes. Will give me a good idea of how unfit I am after a christmas of cheese!
Challenge 2:
A 26.3 mile marathon. Unlike the old fashioned 26.2 mile marathon, this one is 0.4% harder! The marathon in question is the Brathay Windemere Marathon and promises to be nice and hilly.
Challenge 3:
A 160km offroad bike trip along the South Downs National Trail. This route has over 4000 metres of ascent in it which is the equivilent to biking up Sca Fell Pike 4 times! If thats not hard enough I shall be making it harder still, instead of being sensible and using a mountain bike for this I shall use the road bike I used to do Lands End to John O'Groats! And to make it harder still I shall be carrying the groups excess kit on the bike just to make the experience more pleasant!
Challenge 4:
An 84 mile hike along the Dales Way. Usually taking 5-6 days I shall do this in 3 days to minimise time away from my bed!
Challenge 5:
The big one! The Bob Graham Round in the Lake District. A gruelling 24 hour challenge taking in 42 peaks, ascending over 8200 metres and covering 66 miles - did I mention that you've got to complete it in 24 hours!
Fingers crossed that with everyones kind donations we can get the total this year and give Wes the chance to walk. I however shall be unable to for months after these five challenges!
Doing this will help fund life-changing surgery for 2 year old Wes. Please sponsor me if you can.
About Wesley's Wish
Wes was born at 31 weeks and, shortly after birth, suffered damage to the part of his brain that deals with motor control. As a result, he cannot sit, crawl, stand or walk.
There is hope, however, in the form of a pioneering neurosurgical procedure called 'Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy' (SDR). This operation is coupled with a long-term course of specialist physiotherapy. Thousands of children in Wesley's condition have benefitted from these treatments and are now walking, rather than in wheelchairs.
Wesley's Wish exists to raise funds to give Wes this life-changing chance. We're working with Tree of Hope, who are helping us to fundraise: 100% of everything donated will be ringfenced for Wes.