Sam Perkins is a committed triathlete.  Having taken up the sport at the age of 28yrs as a complete beginner, he has gone on to complete over 40 races of all distances including two of ‘Iron‘ distance.  Although never competing at the front of the field, it was the supportive spirit and sense of community which kept him coming back to challenge himself.

At the age of 37, following a period of unusual physical symptoms, including prolonged periods of shortness of breath, Sam received the devastating diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease (MND).  MND is a degenerative neurological condition which affects the motor neurones, taking away an individual’s ability to walk, talk, move and breath.  There are no treatments and no cures.  Fifty percent of patients diagnosed with MND pass away within two years of their diagnosis and it affects 5000 in the UK at any one time.

Sam’s reaction to his diagnosis was inspirational; he pledged to remain as active and positive as possible and to try and make a difference every day.  With the support of his family and wife, Emma, he founded the charity ‘Stand Against MND,’ at the beginning of 2020 and despite a global pandemic has so far raised almost £70,000 to progress MND research and provide palliative care for those affected by MND.

This year Sam wants to complete ‘One More Tri,’ by participating in the Outlaw Half on May 15th 2022.  Team SAM will complete a relay with a swimmer and cyclist completing the first two legs before passing the timing chip onto Sam himself.  Despite requiring the constant assistance of a ventilator to breathe and having lost most physical movement, Sam will complete the run leg in a specially built wheelchair propelled by further members of Team SAM. Enabling him to experience that supportive spirit and sense of community once again - all in aid of Stand Against MND.