Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

This is my personal journey to better myself. After a life time of being overweight I decided enough was enough, it was time to do something about it. I got really serious with dieting & exercise I managed to lose about 4 1/2 stone going down from 19 stone to 14 1/2. But shortly after I began to lose focus & slowly but surely the weight began to reappear.

So I needed a goal to work towards to keep me moving forwards this came in the shape of "Tough Mudder" a 13 mile extreme obstacle course that a close friend of mine completed this year. He is very fit in comparison to me so under taking this is a massive challenge for me. Which is why I am giving myself one year in-order to prepare myself mentally & physically, My new goal is to lose a further 4 stone taking me down to 12 stone & the best physical condition I have been in years. My training will begin shortly starting with the Insanity total body fitness program followed by intensive gym training and cardio sessions. I will be posting updates of my progress here & on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sophiemudder right the way up until Tough Mudder so you can follow my progress & show you’re support.

I didn't just want to do this for myself I wanted to do something for a charity I have been a long-time supporter of "The Sophie Lancaster Foundation". For those that don't know about S.O.P.H.I.E it stands for "Stamp Out Prejudice Hatred Intolerance Everywhere" & is a charity that was set up in the name of Sophie Lancaster following her & her partner Rob’s vicious and unprovoked attack. The couple was assaulted by several youth’s in Stubbeylee Park, Bacup, Lancashire in 2007 simply because they dressed & looked a certain way it was nothing short of a hate crime. The couples severe injuries left both of them in a coma, Sadly Sophie never regained conciseness and passed away in hospital 2 weeks after the attack.

The Sophie Lancaster Foundation is founded by Sophie’s mum Sylvia & Rob. The aims and objectives of the Charity are as follows:
• To create a lasting legacy to Sophie.
• To provide educational group-works that will challenge the prejudice and intolerance towards people from alternative subcultures.
• To campaign to have the UK Hate Crime legislation extended to include people from alternative subcultures or Lifestyle and Dress. The charity also set up anti bullying campaigns in schools to raise awareness and insure other crimes like this can be stopped. The works they do are very important and very close my heart. I was touched by Sophie’s story when I heard about it years ago and have been a long follower of the charity ever since I have been searching for something big I could do to raise funds for them. I am asking for you to sponsor me and my journey whatever you can afford, every little helps.

Together let’s raise some money for S.O.P.H.I.E & change my life forever. Many thanks for reading and I hope you will come back to see my progress.

Dave McCoy.