Hi

Those of you who know me well will be aware that i am hurtling towards my 50th birthday, those of you who don’t know me so well, know now. I am due to be 50 at the beginning of April next year and plan to enter my 50’s in the same manner i entered my 30’s and 40’s (believing i was still in my 20’s) and have therefore set myself a series of physical (and mental) challenges to celebrate reaching “halfway”. I plan to complete all of the challenges before i turn 50 and plan to do at least one a month (injuries and weather permitting).

Where i can i have used a “50’s theme”, where i can’t, they are just a challenge........

As tends to be the case in these things, as i push myself through these challenges i would like to see if i can get some sponsorship for a worthy cause. A close family friend (and various members of her family) live with a condition called Lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune condition, which means it is caused by problems with the immune system (the body’s natural defence against illness and infection). In people with lupus, for reasons not clearly understood, the immune system starts to attack healthy cells, tissue and organs. As with other more common autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, it is thought a combination of genetic and environmental factors is responsible for triggering lupus in certain people. Her family have coped with this condition with both courage and dignity and i would like to raise some sponsorship for The St. Thomas' Lupus Trust, this is a charity that funds vital and pioneering research into lupus. It also supports the only dedicated lupus Clinic in Europe.

The Challenges:

The Three Peaks Challenge – This is a challenge that involves walking the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales (Ben Nevis, Skafell Pike and Snowdonia) completing all three within a 24 hour period. www.thethreepeakschallenge.co.uk

The “50” gym challenge – This is a challenge that involves me Barbell bench pressing my own bodyweight 50 times, chinning (over hand pull ups) my own body weight 50 times, Squatting my own body weight 50 times and dipping my own body weight 50 times in under 50 minutes. My bodyweight will be taken on the day of the challenge.

The Cioch - Sron Na Ciche – This is an approx 270metre or 900ft rock climb on the Isle of Skye (i am reliably informed that it is “classic Scottish rock climbing”). Cioch Direct which is the start of the route is a total height of 150m which will require several pitches of climbing and is graded at Severe - Arrow Route which is the flat middle section is 61m and is graded at Very Difficult - Integrity which is the Crux of the entire route is 76m and is graded at Very Severe.

A 50km Gym Triathalon – This will be a 10km row – a 30km cycle and a 10 km run.

A 3000ft static line parachute jump

I plan to finish with a rowing challenge which i will define nearer the time.

All of these challenges will involve me undertaking a different type of training and conditioning in order to be able to complete them, something i am looking forward to.

My Challenge (weather permitting)will start on the 19th of August with the Three peaks........................wish me luck.............and please sponsor me

Take Care

Eddie