Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

We are raising money in memory of the loss of a good friend, Gianni Sonvico, who passed away unexpectedly in late October 2013 at the age of just 23.

I had known Gianni since the beginning of secondary school, where many had joked about us being alike, similar in stature, wearing glasses but only for me to have blonde hair and him dark. We were close throughout school, virtually in every class together (except when he chose GCSE cooking!) and almost every weekend was spent as a group: Me, Gianni, Ryan, Havz and Ol (the other 3 Tough Mudders). We all had a fantastic childhood together.

Later, when we all went our different ways off to university, he was always the one to keep us in contact and insisted on catching up whenever we were all home, just like the good-old days. He pursued his career in Law, with the aim of becoming a barrister, which I am sure he would have excelled at. His other passion was Arsenal FC, from an early age he was a fanatical Gooner and I clearly remember him at 14 years old proudly displaying the document stating his position of 13,374 in the Arsenal season ticket waiting list. Then a number of years later, after he moved to London for university, his dream came true and he was fortunate to be able to watch them play every week from a cracking seat (which I can vouch for) cheering on the Arsenal.

It was this passion for Arsenal that we have chosen The Arsenal Foundation as the charity to raise money for in his memory. The Arsenal Foundation focuses on work that motivates and inspires young people - often through education and sport - to help them reach their potential and become the best they can be. It is one that was certainly close to his heart.

Tough Mudder is a 12 mile obstacle course challenge designed to test your all-around strength, stamina, mental grit and camaraderie which as a team, aptly named ‘The G Team’, we will complete. It is a challenge he often mentioned and I’m sure he would have taken it in his stride and for that reason alone we feel it is appropriate to be undertaking it in his memory.

He will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.

Thank you for taking the time to read my page.

Diolch yn fawr.

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