A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE DONATED AND SUPPORTED ME THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES - YOUR GENEROSITY IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!!!!

I have now successfully completed all of the challenges - the results are listed below.

Your kind and generous donations have helped raise much needed funds for the Fire Fighters Charity.

 

 Please sponsor me to raise money in 2010 for The Fire Fighters Charity.

2 years ago I suffered brain injury and multiple other injuries following a near fatal accident. I had to relearn how to walk and talk, but with lots of support and determination I made my recovery. This year I am going to attempt the following to raise money for the charity that helped me.

April: London Marathon (26.2 mile run) Successfully completed in 3 hours 37 minutes 35 seconds 

May: Tour of Wessex (320 mile cycle) Successfully completed in 22 hours 10 minutes

June: Weymouth Half Ironman (1.2 mile swim / 56 mile cycle / 13.1 mile run) Successfully completed in 5 hours 9 minutes 28 seconds

July: Austria Ironman – THE RETURN! (2.4 mile swim / 112 mile cycle / 26.2 mile run) Successfully completed in 11 hours 57 minutes and 06 seconds (despite horrendous thunderstorms on the bike and 36 degree heat on the marathon!)

 

This won't be easy, it's a huge challenge - so please support me.

25th April 2010 - First challenge down, 3 to go!

24th June 2010 - three events down, 'just' Ironman the Return to go!

9th July 2010 - all events successfully finished - challenge complete!

 

 

Hi Everyone,

Have I told you my story? If not you are in for a treat so I hope you are sitting comfortably... (only joking!)

In February 2008 I had an accident while on holiday in Switzerland. While walking back to our chalet I slipped in snow and ice, knocked myself out and then fell 4 metres vertically onto concrete. I suffered multiple life threatening injuries, I was in a coma, my lung collapsed several times and I sustained around 22 breaks to my bones (skull, jaw, clavicle, sternum, ribs), the hardest part though was the brain injury. Following excellent treatment in Sion Hospital with my wife Louise by my side I was flown back to the UK. It was believed that if I did survive I would be in a permanent vegetative state so of course I had to defy the odds.

Over the following few months I worked as hard as I could to get myself back on track. The hardest thing to overcome was the brain injury as this controlled everything so I had to learn to walk and talk and eat etc. This is where the Fire Fighters Charity came in. I did have excellent support from my team of nurses and medical professionals but the Fire Fighters Charity are the ones who helped me back.

I spent a number of weeks at their rehabilitation facility, Harcombe House in Devon where I was put through my paces. Being with other fire fighters who were also recovering from lots of different things made me more determined to get back to the job I loved.

The Fire Fighters Charity have been a support for me and my family since the day of my accident. They provided Louise with emotional and practical support while she was with me overseas and then on return they have been invaluable. This is why I feel it is time for me to give something back with your help.

From facing death to my first Austria Ironman in 2009! I set myself this challenge for two reasons. Firstly I turned 40 so I wanted to mark the occasion and secondly it seemed an appropriate stage of recovery and to raise funds for the charity that helped me so much. I am now an operational firefighter once again - where I belong.

In case you don't know the Ironman event is a tough challenge - nothing like making it easy and this isn't! The Ironman Austria takes place in Klagenfurt. I will start with a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike then end with a marathon, 26.2 miles - surely that deserves sponsorship ?!?

This is part of the update from 2009:

**UPDATE** I completed the Ironman event on Sunday 5th July 2009 in a time of 11 hours, 34 minutes and 25 seconds!! Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far, it has been great to read the messages and I am so grateful for the generous donations.This was a massive achievement, 17 months ago I couldn't walk, now I am an Ironman!

After completing the Austria Ironman in 2009 I decided to set myself a bigger challenge for 2010. This year I will be running the Virgin London Marathon in April (26.2 miles), in May completing the Tour of Wessex cycle event of around 320 miles, in June the Weymouth half ironman and then in July the Austria Ironman for a second time! All of this is to help raise much needed funds for the Fire Fighters Charity.

I am immenseley grateful for all the donations so far so by challenging myself more please would you consider sponsoring me again and helping me raise funds for the Fire Fighters Charity?

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: The Fire Fighters Charity gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks, and don't forget...its all about Dave!

ps message from Lou - how can you resist that cute grin?!