Stop press: I am an Ironman and just beat my target (10:51.31). You on the other hand, seem to be exceeding my best targets. Thank you all for your fantastic generosity. By passing £3200 you'll already have helped to fund 2 weeks of a clinical drugs trial. I'm reminded again what kept me going and drove me on in those final, painful 10 miles. Thank you.

What am I doing?

I’m taking part in the Outlaw Triathlon on 8^th August, which is over the Ironman distance. It involves swimming 3.8k, cycling 180k and then running 42.2k. That’s 226km (140.6 miles) to be covered. It’s swimming the full length of the Serpentine 5 times, completing a stage of the Tour de France and then running a full marathon afterwards. Have I got your attention yet?

So the obvious question is why.

For me, because I want to. The motivation which kept me going through the tough hours of training, has been to raise as much money for Cancer Research as possible having lost mum to cancer earlier this year. I wanted to choose a real challenge which not just anybody could take on, and hopefully along with a cause, you’ll think worthy of your support.

Why Cancer Research ?

300k people in the are diagnosed with a cancer each year. It’s estimated that 1 in 3 will contract cancer at some point in their lives. Have a look around you – it doesn’t care who it affects (parents, partners, siblings or children). Progress is being made; survival rates have doubled in the last 30 years. To cite one example, 25 years ago, 80% of children developing leukaemia died, now 80% survive. With more clinical trials, better screening programs and more research, hopefully the survival rates will improve further and somebody else’s mum will pull through. This is why I’ve chosen Cancer Research .

http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerandresearch/progress/

How you can help make a difference.

Were I to raise £1,600, it would help fund a large scale clinical drugs trial for a week.

I really want to beat 12 hours to complete (1 hour swim, 7 hour bike & 4 hour marathon), however my target time is beat 11:05 the length of a tennis match. Whilst Isner & Mahut sat down between games and had two nights’ sleep during their personal marathon, I will be pushing myself throughout. If you agree it is a tough challenge and a worthy cause, then please support me.

Hopefully many of you will be able to support me to the tune of 5p or 10p per mile covered; alternatively, you may choose to support me based on my performance; but please do (and boost your donation with Gift Aid if you're eligible)

 

Many thanks,

Ed