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The Event:

The Grand Union Canal Race (GUCR) is Britain's longest, toughest, non-stop running race.  It starts in the centre of Birmingham at 6 a.m. on Saturday 29th May 2010 and finishes at the centre of London. Competitors are required to complete the 145 mile distance within the time limit of 45 hours. From past results typically less than 30% of runnners starting the race manage to complete it.   This is the most physically challenging event I have ever attempted in my life.  I am doing a significant amount of training in preparation and that is a challenge in itself too.  Given that just 5 years ago I was 5 stone overweight and very unfit, I have come a long way to this moment.

The Result - 134 miles in 42 hours 52 mins

Despite getting soaked to the skin by 35 miles, and spraining my foot at 50 miles, I managed to get this far.  Unfortunately on the 2nd night, with my mind not totally alert. there was some confusion as to whether I was on the correct route just beyond Hayes, and though it turned out that I was I had wasted valuable time in ascertaining that, back tracking the route, and engaging with race organisers team. The result was that I did not get to the final checkpoint within the cut off time, so I was forced to retire from the race, else I would have continued.

Click here for Evening Star Report

The Charity

MHA provides a range of services for older people nationwide to suit their individual and differing needs. 

They place a special emphasis on the spiritual, as well as physical well-being of each person for whom they provide care and all their homes and housing have a chaplain to provide pastoral support.  MHA is at the forefront of quality dementia services, building new services and delivering care and support specially designed for individuals with dementia.

Why?

My mother, Frieda suffered with dementia in her later years and was a resident at a Claybourne, a MHA Residential Home in Tunstall near Stoke.  My mother had been in previous care establishments prior to this, but in stark comparison MHA staff had passion for the job and love for the residents, so she was in good hands. She passed away in 2009.

I have chosen the Grand Union Canal Race as I wanted to do something that sounded impossible and that I would have to work extremely hard for to achieve, thus really putting the effort in to deservedly earn the sponsorship for the charity

Just Giving

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 and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please be generous and donate now.

 

thankyou for your support

 

David