Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

My marathon challenge of 2010 is complete. Link to a video of the challenge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7_Iw4iEkKY 

In 2010 I chose to fundraise for BLESMA (British Limbless Ex Servicemen Association). My mum, Ros, is an amputee having lost a foot after several years of persevering with a broken ankle injury. She has made a great recovery after the amputation and is now very able and mobile. Ros suggested that I might consider raising money for amputees.

BLESMA my chosen charity for the work that it does with and for limbless ex servicemen and women, and in recognition of the fact that currently many service personnel are being injured and rendered limbless by IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). A number of these casualties have suffered multiple limb loss.

The MOD releases limited information relating to the nature of casualties in Afghanistan. They did confirm that as of March 2009 51 personnel had lost limbs in the conflict. Evidence indicates far more. To date, BLESMA has been in contact with 133+ and know of more who will be contacted. A report from BBC Scotland in February 2010, reported personnel losing limbs reaching double figures in a single week. Specialist treatment and rehabilitation  centres Selly Oak Hospital and Headley Court (which specialises in the care of amputees) report a dramatic 4 fold increase in admissions in the last 2 years with 20+ admissions per week.

These injuries are life shattering. People have to cope with horrific physical and deep psychological trauma. Amazingly, many army amputees are still serving in the forces. It is organisations like BLESMA that help enable this level of rehabilitation and in particular provide assistance to those who do not remain in the services, and have to build new lives.

After the Hebridean Double Marathon Challenge in 2008 (for Macmillan) and the Cape Wrath Challenge in 2009 (for the Teenage Cancer Trust)  I was asked how I could top that .... well ....

always looking for a new challenge and a greater incentive to encourage donations to my chosen charity, and since 2010 is the 2500 anniversary of the marathon, I came up with the idea of a grand slam of the scottish road marathons which included taking on the full Cape Wrath Challenge again and a 40 mile ultra. So the challenge is:

Lochaber Marathon - April 18th 2010                           Completed, 4hrs 43mins 57secs

Cape Wrath Challenge - May 17th - May 22nd 2010   Completed

      Day 1 - Half marathon                                                   Completed, 2hrs 9 mins

      Day 2 - 5.5 mile Hill Run                                               Completed, 51 mins

      Day 3 - 9 mile Round Durness Run                             Completed, 1hr 31 mins

      Day 4 - 3 mile Beach Fun Run                                     Completed, 31 mins

      Day 5 - Rest

      Day 6 - Cape Wrath Marathon                                     Completed, 4hrs 50 mins

Clyde Stride 40 Miles (ultra event) - July 17th 2010         (40 miles over multi terrain to be completed in 11 hours) Completed, 9hrs 17 mins

Moray Marathon - September 5th 2010, Completed, 4hrs 45 mins

Loch Ness Marathon - October 3rd 2010, Completed, 4hrs 51 mins

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