Welcome to Team HOP, part of team Bygate, raising money for the Great North Air Ambulance in memory of Chris ‘Iron-Ultra Man’ Bygate.  The Great North Air Ambulance were actually the first on site to try and save Chris, each helicopter costs approximately £1.2 million to run and they receive no government or lottery assistance.  So please dig deep and donate now to this very worthwhile charity.    

We are doing a team half iron man on June 2nd 2013.  We are an odd team, two team members are more comfortable sitting and tend to avoid exercise and at times moving at all (Huw and Phil).  Oli needs to do an Epic time to make up for this.  Oli is also doing an epic 44 mile marathon the weekend after - yes 44 miles that is not a typo.

Huw will be doing the 1.9km open water swim, the team agreed that this is the hardest part so the bravest person needed to do this.  Huw will be up against freezing cold water, merky water (can't see), lot's of angry swimmers, probably some sharks or worse large fish and he's got a dodgy ankle - so will be swimming with one leg.  

Phil is doing a leisurely 60 mile bike ride (he moans that he needs to cycle fast or something) and Oli is running around a bit for 13 miles.

We have set ourselves the challenge of raising enough for one helicopter.  So dig deep.