Iain Cook was one of life's greatest.

Iain was my best friend. We met at playgroup when we were 2, and I've known him every day of my life since. He was like a brother to me. Years later we spent over a decade working side by side at the children's charity HCPT Group 77, and I was proud to be his best man, as he was mine. To many people he was known as Cookie, or Biscuits, or Batman. The last a nickname that summed him up perfectly: funny, fiercely loyal, larger than life, and never once willing to turn down a challenge.

On 31 October 2016, Iain died suddenly. He was 29. The cause was a hidden heart condition, coronary heart disease and left ventricular hypertrophy, the kind of young sudden cardiac death that takes around 12 young people every week in the UK, most of them with no idea anything was wrong. These deaths are so often preventable. That's why I'm raising money for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), who fund heart screening for young people and support families through the unthinkable.

This year marks 10 years since we lost him. To honour Iain, I wanted to do something bigger than I've ever done before, I want to throw myself into something difficult, so I've set myself The Batman Challenge: a two-week series of challenges across September 2026, built around Iain's nickname and everything he loved.

The plan:

- An abseil down Anfield: home of Iain's beloved Liverpool FC

- A 5-day cycle from Anfield to East End Park, Dunfermline — linking the two grounds where we spent so many Saturdays (C'mon ye Pars!)

- A superhero themed 5K Parkrun in Riverside Park, Glenrothes, our hometown: everyone, all ages, all paces, can come along and join in: walk, jog or run!

- A 10K in Edinburgh, part of the Men's 10K

- A bungee jump from Garry Bridge in Killiecrankie, then...

- A drop and swing from a rope the full length of Garry Bridge, then...

- An hour of zip lining through and between trees - all epic Batman style stunts

- A climb up Ben Nevis: the same climb we did as friends and family after he passed, which we'll make again 10 years on.

- And a Sportsman's Dinner & Charity Auction to finish, celebrating Iain and everyone who took part, and for everyone to come together and have fun.

The best part: You're all invited! This isn't a solo mission. Join me for one event, a few, or the whole fortnight. Ride a single day, run the 5K Parkrun, climb Nevis, or just come along to cheer, help out, or share the page. Every bit of it is in Iain's memory, and every pound goes to CRY. Iain was all about getting together, having a great time, enjoying life, being together, and inclusivity.

If you knew Iain, you'll know exactly why this matters. If you didn't know him, I simply wish you had.

Please donate what you can, and help me hit £20,000 for an amazing cause. £20,000 is a big number, but that is the amount needed to fund a weekend screening event in Iain's name, screening up to 250 young people for hidden heart conditions.

By supporting CRY you will help save young lives from these potentially fatal cardiac conditions.

Thank you. 🦇

Mike

See how your support can help by visiting www.c-r-y.org.uk