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Target: £1,000.00
Raised so far: £975.00
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My story

 

Hello!!

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

What's he doing now?

On the 5th December this year I will attempt to complete the Everest Marathon, the worlds highest marathon from just below Everest Base Camp to Namche Bazaar. The course covers 26.2 miles and totals approximately 2,200m of descent and 450m of ascent (the longest 450m I'll ever run!) and the start is reached after a 16 day trek through the Himalayas. The weather can be variable and temperatures can drop as low as -20 C and that's all before taking the extremes of altitude on the body into account...

Is he crazy?

Probably, but there are 3 very good reasons for doing it:

1) Trek the Himalayas and see Everest

2) Do something to tell the grand kids about

3) Raise money for grass roots health and education development projects in Nepal

So he wants my money in a time of economic crisis?

In short...yes.

To put things into perspective: Nepal is a country that is among the 5 poorest in the world - 49% of the population live below the poverty line.  Just a small donation is enough to make a huge difference.  All money donated will go towards charitable projects.

Now, in comparison to the endurance and strength of the Nepalese I am pretty pathetic (since the race's inception no one outside Nepal has actually won the race...).  Therefore, aside from the physical nature of the event itself, the hardest thing has been the last 3 months of training and the next 3 months of training whilst staying healthy for the event as I travel round Japan and India (I know this was my choice...).  At least Delhi Belly coupled with "extreme" heat and humidity will get me to 'race weight' quicker than normal!

There are numerous good causes to donate money towards but I hope that the challenge I face and the charity I am doing it for will convince you to dig deep and help sponsor me!  If that's not enough then think about my poor girlfriend that I'm dragging along with me to help marshall the race and who will have to nurse me back to health afterwards!!

Cheers,

Ben

Donation by Hannah Cook 06/11/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Well done Ben, what an amazing experience (especially when most people bum around a beach on their travels!) - good luck xH&Cx Donation by Helen Sharp 07/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Don't know anyone else fit/brave enough to do this...look forward to hearing how you got on! lcj x Donation by Leigh-Anne Johnson 03/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck with the run and remember you will never be in as much pain as me in a few weeks time. Love xxx Donation by Nicola Kruchinin 19/08/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Bonus fiver if you win. Donation by Big Si 19/08/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

All the best for the training and event - I have no ounce of jealousy but impressed anyway. Make sure there are plenty of photos so we have proof! Donation by Jess Grigor 11/08/09  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

...cant wait to see how Mr Francis tries to raise the bar from this! Poxy Iron Man is not going to cut it any more. Donation by warren hallworth 11/08/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

We are expecting a top 50 finish Donation by Paul Bingham 04/08/09  

£150.00

Wishing you lots of luck - it's an amazing challenge & we look forward to seeing photos of you crossing the finishing line. Donation by Claire & Colin 04/08/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck...hope you make it up the hill! Donation by Simon Jones 03/08/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Great effort Ben - I have big respect Donation by Giles Sims Williams 31/07/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Mate your a nutter. Keep that VO2 max up and good luck. Enjoy! Donation by James Lewis 29/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck Ben Donation by Stuart 27/07/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Ben! You are completely crazy, but I'm sure you'll enjoy it in some mad adrenaline-rush way! Donation by Sian 24/07/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Good luck mate, not that you'll need it with all that training! Big love... Donation by Willy 23/07/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Good luck - I was up trekking there last year, even walking is hard! Donation by Peter Hardie 18/07/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck HB - I'll be with you every step of the way! Donation by Amy Wallace 16/07/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Well done Ben... good to see that you're following through on your promise to "live the dream". Good luck Donation by Al. 13/07/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Good Luck you nutter! Hope to see you on 23rd. Donation by Mark Kimber 13/07/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Hey Ben - good luck with the marathon. Tough challenge, but I'm sure you can do it! Donation by Shelley Wiilliams 10/07/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Great effort mate; hope you manage to enjoy it! Donation by Michael Smith 08/07/09  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

Hey - good to see you're still on top of the world... Good luck and keep us posted! Donation by Henrik 07/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Very best of luck, sounds like an horrendous thing to do! and good luck to Amy as well x Donation by Sarah Turnbull 07/07/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Good luck - you're seriously going to need it. Make sure you give yourself a bit of leeway for some shochu in Japan! Donation by Hannah Aynsley 07/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

I look forward to hearing all about it Sydney on 10th Jan... L x Donation by Lucy Heyes 07/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck Ben! It's mega impressive that you've even contemplated this & it'll be incredible when you complete it, which I'm sure you will do! Donation by Kate Rydings 07/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

The mountains are amazing, all the very best and don't forget to take your diamox! Donation by Rebecca Demery 07/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Great Cause, Brutal Event. I know what it's like up there! You'll come back running 2hrs for the marathon after that kind of training. Donation by Max Brear 07/07/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Awesome challenge! Now go beat those Nepalese on home turf/mountain range/ice! Good luck Donation by John Francis 06/07/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid
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