Last year I ran the Catterick Paras10 in aid of Support our Paras, and also for myself.

When I went to Catterick I met a former Paratrooper who had lost a leg in Afghanistan and was doing the 10 mile TAB - 9 years to the day since he suffered his injury!!! It made me think that if he could do it on one leg then I should certainly be able to do it on two legs. I have signed on to do the Paras10 in September as a TAB - which means not only am I running 10 miles across their training course but i will be doing it with a 35lb bergen on my back!!!!!

It then got me thinking about what other challenges there are out there that I could do to raise money for them, and to prepare for the Paras10. I came up with the list below, and am seriously thinking I might have bitten off more than I can chew!!!

20th March - Major Series 10k at Bramham Park

30th April - Yorkshire Warrior 10 miler, Rudding Park

8th May - Beverley 10k TAB (carrying 35lbs), Beverley

19th June - Hull 10k TAB (carrying 35lbs), Hull

3rd July - Fan Dance Race, Breacon Beacons - the SAS selection course

8th July - Walkington 10k TAB (carrying 35lbs), Walkington

7th August - Tough Mudder, West Yorkshire

4th September - Paras10 TAB, Catterick Garrison

17th September - P Coy Fan Dance fitness challenge, Brecon Beacons

7th January - Polar Night Half Marathon, Tromso, Norway

14th January - Winter Fan Dance (Load bearing)

26th February - Harewood House half marathon

2nd April - Rome marathon

22nd April - P Coy Fan Dance, Brecon Beacons

14th May - Beverley 10k TAB

18th June - Hull 10k TAB

8th July - Summer Fan Dance (Load bearing)

30th July - Tough Mudder, West Yorkshire

3rd September - Paras 10 TAB, Catterick Garrison

17th September - P Company Fan Dance, Brecon Beacons

2018 - all of the above and more!!!!!

I am doing all the above in aid of Support Our Paras because the Parachute Regiment is regularly sent to the most dangerous places in the world and so suffer a large number of casualties, both physical and mental. A statistic I saw says that the phrase "Royal Marines" is searched on Google three times more than "Parachute Regiment", this means that people are more likely to donate to other regiments, like the Marines, ahead of the Parachute Regiment. The Parachute Regiment has suffered at the hands of the media over the years and so people don't always hold the regiment in the high regard that it is due. All the Paras I have met are amazing people, both brave and very matter of fact about the dangers they face. I was so impressed with the Paras who manned the Parachute Regiment stand at Catterick, they were cheerful and helpful and great with the children - showing them weapons and letting them try on their kit. My eldest son made one of them cock and re-cock the .50 cal machine gun over 20 times without complaint and when he asked if he could have some bullets for it, he was told "sign up and you can have as many bullets as you want!!!" - I now have an 8 year old very keen to become a Paratrooper.

 Whilst all arms of the services are worthy of our support I felt that the Parachute Regiment deserves as much recognition as others because of the enormous sacrifices they have, and continue to make in conflicts around the world - so I am trying to do my bit.

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