Hi all !

I am taking part in a full Ironman in Bolton "the friendliest town in England". I have been training since October and this involves getting up at 5.30am in the cold and the rain for a 2km swim in Deptford swimming baths followed by a 10 mile run to work or a cycle… every morning.

The Iroman is a serious event. It is an ultra-triathlon starting with a 2.4 mile swim, then there is a 112 mile cycle-ride and it finishes with a full marathon of 26.22 miles !

This video called "The Crawl" shows what happens when participants hit the famous wall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTn1v5TGK_w

As a vegan athlete I have completed 6 marathons to date with a PB time of 2hrs 41 mins. I feel it is very important to showcase the power of the diet in the sport events - it simply is the best diet to enhance athletic performance with many well known athletes becoming vegan precisely for this reason (Novak Djokovic, David Haye, Venus Williams and Carl Lewis).

I have enjoyed much fame and fortune in my marathon running career, and here is where you can find a link to me doing press-ups outside Buckingham Palace dressed in a tutu on the finish line of the London marathon :

https://www.peta.org.uk/…/whats-his-secret-vegan-marathon-…/

It is fitting therefore that I am raising money for Viva! which is an excellent charity that I have been involved with for a number of years. It promotes and educates on the importance of diet and the effect it has on the planet, the animals and health.

Viva! is also on the front line in exposing poor ethical practice in farming and has shone the spotlight some Red Tractor approved farms which completely disregard animal welfare. Every industry needs a regulator who cares and this is what Viva! is in animal agriculture.

Viva! saves lives, and is bringing about a low or no meat world. Below are some links showcasing the work they do.

Your support would mean so much to me, and help me to drag myself to the finish line!

Some of Viva!'s campaigns :

https://www.viva.org.uk/…/uk%E2%80%99s-first-ever-vegan-cin…

https://veganuary.com/…/viva-investigation-uncovers-cannib…/

https://www.vivahealth.org.uk/healthfea…/vegan-hospital-food

https://www.independent.co.uk/…/animal-welfare-mcdonalds-na…

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/…/Red-Tractor-UK-food-standards…