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I like a challenge that gives me something to aim for and last year I didn’t have one so started  looking for a new challenge. I thought about the

• Marathon des Sables, very expensive and uncertain because of travel restrictions,
• Swimming the channel, even more expensive with difficulties around training, my ability and health (I had a cardiac arrest in 2013), and
• Iron man, not so expensive but the time and effort required to master three disciplines seemed too much of stretch physically and time wise, plus I don't have a bike and haven't ridden one for years.

Then I came across the Dragon’s Back Race, the world’s toughest mountain race from Conwy Castle on the coast of North Wales to Cardiff Castle on the coast of South Wales. It is a legendary multi-stage, ultra-running journey down the spine of Wales. It is over 235 miles (380 km), an average of a marathon and a half a day, with over 57,000 feet of ascent (17,400m) or twice the height of Everest. Completed over six days with check points and cut off times that you have to meet or you are out of the race plus strict weight limits on kit.

It seemed to fit the bill and as soon as entries opened last September I put my name down. My thinking was focused more on the beautiful views and vistas, how nice it would be to travel the whole my adopted home country and what could be better than running towards home in Cardiff. I didn’t really pay much attention to the tough aspect of it, how high you have to go to get the views and vistas, or the challenges presented by mountains and the terrain that comes with them, and
I didn’t really think much about the impact of the weather!

With the benefit of nearly a year’s worth of training, attending recce events covering virtually every step of the route and looking in detail at information on the event from the website to films, to documentaries to past participants I only now have an understanding of the challenge I have signed up to. There's a good reason why a book about the event is titled “Failure is an option”, last year only a quarter of participants completed the race.

I am raising money for two charities close to my heart and all the money raised will go direct to the charities, all costs associated with the Dragon’s Back Race have come out of my pocket.

Festival Branch of Samaritans was set up in 1973 in response to the high numbers of young men taking their own lives with the aim of reaching out to young men in the places they went to, which back in the day was rock festivals. Sadly there are still a high number of people dying by suicide and many of them do not access any support. I have been a volunteer with Festival Branch of Samaritans for over 30 years and know first-hand the incredible work Festival Branch does in providing emotional support at events reaching out to people. The fundraising page for Festival Branch is https://samaritanscommunity.enthuse.com/pf/david-bland

I have worked with people with mental health problems for over 20 years and for the last 10 years as CEO of Newport Mind. I know the difference that the work of the staff and volunteers of Newport Mind makes to the lives of people with mental health problems, I know how dramatically the need for our services has increased over the past few years and I know how much of difference donations can make to the support we are able to provide.

I am committed to getting to Cardiff and completing the race successfully but I am now in no doubt about the scale of the challenge that faces me but it pales into insignificance compared to the challenges people with mental health problems and/or those contemplating suicide face.

Your support will encourage me but more importantly it will mean you can make a difference to the lives of people struggling with mental health problems or feeling like there is no point in going on. I am hoping that my efforts will in some small way raise the profile of mental health letting people know that Mind and Samaritans are always there for people to turn to for help and support.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.