A handful of St. Mary's students and staff are competing in Tough Guy on the 1st Feb 2009, which is world's safest most dangerous taste of mental physical pain endurance, set over 8 miles of cross-country terrain in Wolverhampton country-side.

The phenomena of Tough Guy© has now evolved into cult status with mythical legends to a world wide audience and competitors from every continent coming here to try to beat this ordeal and enjoy the unique spirit of our friendship and amiability.

We are set in over 150 acres of fertile land where spring waters will wash away your miseries and replace them with smiles of achievement .

Each year a new theme is built into Tough Guy this ensures that it remains the worlds safest most dangerous taste of mental physical pain endurance toughest events. Tough Guy will always be a physically challenging, mentally demanding, fear inducing, visual spectacular. After you have taken part you will understand why thousands keep coming back, year after year to experience some of the most demanding yet rewarding challenges of their life!

Yohimbe!
We have searched the world amongst military and security forces to find any unit with a more demanding ONE DAY survival training ordeal. The US Navy S.E.A.L.S. 'Grinder' Assault Course is our nearest rival. We admire that no S.E.A.L. would ever desert a colleague and that on completion of each endurance discipline they shout 'Hoo-yah', their own unique cry of triumph. Tough Guy has the Buddy Devotion and now we have our own cry - 'Yohimbe'. Only on completion of the event will you be told the derivation of the word.

Tough guy is open to individuals and teams. The event is uniquely fear ridden and you need to be fit in both body and spirit to survive the ordeal. You will not be alone, thousands will be by your side. There you will find the true spirit of Tough Guy.

Thanks for visiting our fundraising page.

We are raising money for the Knight Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis, which is the CF specialist centre that Rob Lake (second from left - with his legs out) regularly attends.  He is a sufferer of Cystic Fibrosis himself, but insists 'I am running for the thousands of children and young adults in the UK who, because they also suffer from this disease, wouldn't even entertain the idea of running 1 mile, let alone 8 through mud, water, barbed wire, fire, smoke, climbing frames and electric fences'.  Here are some messy details about CF...

The symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis are widespread but predominantly affect the lungs and pancreas. A quote from the CF Foundation (The US based CF charity): "The defective gene causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. These thick secretions also obstruct the pancreas, preventing digestive enzymes from reaching the intestines to help break down and absorb food."

In most cases, the causes of death for people with CF are related to poor lung function and a decreasing vital capacity causing gradual lung failure. As there is no cure for CF, the vast majority of CF patients put themselves on the waiting list for lung transplants. Meanwhile, they can often spend countless days and months in hospital or at home wired to ventilation machines. I have gradually come to the harsh realisation that this, in fact, could be me in a few years.

Statistically, it is the UK's most common life-threatening inherited disease, as approximately '1 in every 3000 births' is to a baby with CF. In fact, one in 25 of us is a non-symptomatic carrier of the disease. The life expectancy of someone with Cystic Fibrosis is just 31 years and less than 40% of children born with it reach their 18th birthday.

Rob can now fully appreciate just how extremely lucky that he is, to be 28 years old, and a fit and healthy CF patient. The impingements of the disease upon his life have only ever been slight. Being in such a privileged position, he sees it as his duty to help those less fortunate. That is why he is taking part in Tough Guy along with his team of St. Mary's students and staff (known as Team Simms), captained by Rory Mee (far left - with the gun) and managed by Rik Mellor (kneeling).

We believe that together we can make a difference for the thousands of children and young adults with CF in the UK.  The Knight Centre is a cutting-edge specialist centre providing the best possible care for CF patients.  The doctors and staff are excellent and all the facilities are funding through charitable donations.  Please give generously!

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor us: The Knight Foundation For Cystic Fibrosis 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 us now!  Thanks,

Team Simms