As you may be aware, Miller Homes has set itself a challenge of raising £100,000 during 2016 for Habitat for Humanity Great Britain’s Hope Builders campaign.

Habitat for Humanity carries out fantastic work providing support for some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world to lift them out of housing poverty by giving them a place to feel safe, secure and to build a future – something most of us take for granted.  

I am committed to supporting the Habitat for Humanity campaign and want to do my part to make a difference to some of those families around the world who need it most.  To “do my part” I have committed myself to undertake two gruelling physical
challenges “Race The Train” and “Man V’s Mountain”.  I decided against going for the easy option of just undertaking one challenge, but thought I would push myself to the ultimate limit by competing in two! 

1. Race the Train (20 August) – a 14 mile cross country race which challenges runners not only to beat their fellow competitors
   but to out-run a steam train as it travels along the Talyllyn Railway to Abergynolwyn and back again.  The time to beat is the train’s journey of one hour and 47 minutes which will be no mean feat across some horrendously rough and muddy terrain!  Follow the link for further details of the event http://racethetrain.com/ 

2. Man v’s Mountain (3 September) – the brutal 22 mile race begins at Caernarfon Castle with competitors facing a 14 mile up-hill
   run to the summit of Snowdon, climbing a massive 5,100m, followed by a tricky descent down to the Dinorwic Quarry, contending with a host of obstacles on rough and rocky ground on the way including a vertical kilometre – not for the faint hearted!  The average finishing time for the event is just under 6 hrs but I am looking to finish in around 7hrs, you also have to take a survival pack with you to include a coat, survival blanket, food and water as you can be stuck on the mountain overnight if the weather closes in, so no walk in the park for me! You can find out more
   about this event by following the link http://ratrace.com/manvsmountain2016/

The above two challenges are going to be tough, but they are made even tougher by the fact that 2 years ago I underwent the surgeon’s knife and had re-constructive surgery on my left knee.  At first it was thought that a knee replacement may be required should the surgery be unsuccessful, but thankfully it was not required.  The surgery on my knee,
however, has not stopped me and has made me more determined.  These challenges are part of my rehabilitation and will most certainly push me (and my knee) to my limits.

My training has begun in earnest and the hard work and tremendous effort to achieve both will be worth it, if I can reach my own personal fundraising target of £3,000 for Habitat for Humanity.  I hope you will agree they are challenges worth enough to ask you all to put  your hands deep into your pockets and support me in my goal.  They really are the toughest challenges I've ever undertaken and I've no doubt they will test both my physical and mental fitness to the limit.  Thank you in advance for your assistance and support.

Alastair Parsons, Sales Director Midlands.