After many years of over-indulging, I have found an exciting challenge to motivate me to get off the sofa and into the gym!!!

Me and my lovely Bex have signed up to complete this year’s London South Tough Mudder, taking place in Winchester on Saturday 26^th September (the day before my birthday I might add!)

Tough Mudder is a 10-12 mile obstacle course including scary things such as “Ring of Fire” - jumping into freezing cold water and receiving electric shocks. For more scary stuff we will be experiencing visit https://toughmudder.co.uk/events/what-is-tough-mudder.

In preparation for this event, I am hitting the gym four times a week and have found a surprising love for spinning classes!! The biggest change I have made is giving up alcohol…. It’s been two weeks so far, aiming to remain off the sauce until I complete this challenge; then celebrate my birthday in style. For those that know me well, you understand this change is a big deal given my typical daily drinking habits! 

Naturally this is a huge challenge for me to undertake - both physically and mentally. So you are aware of the bigger picture, I have the additional fear two weeks after Tough Mudder, of being my younger sister’s Maid of Honour! (I am under strict instruction to ensure I don’t gain any bruises on my face and arms or break any bones!) #pressure 

In addition to this being a personal achievement, it is also a great opportunity to raise money for a worthy cause. Three years ago my Grandad suffered a stroke. Thankfully it was a mild stroke but the long term effects and reoccurring health issues are devastating. 

Whilst in the last 20 years the number of people dying from strokes has halved and the number of major strokes has decreased by 40%, there are approx 152,000 strokes in the UK every year. More people than ever are benefiting from cutting-edge treatment and making full recoveries - you are twice as likely to survive a stroke than 20 years ago - and yet strokes remain the UK's third biggest killer. The Stroke Association has helped hundreds of thousands of people overcome the most frightening experiences of their lives - their campaigning has touched the lives of even more people through initiatives like the FAST campaign, developed to help people recognise the signs of a stroke and take emergency action.

Please donate whatever you can for this worthwhile cause as I know the money I raise will give me even more motivation to complete this challenge… hopefully in one piece!!

Thank you 

Danielle xxx