Between the 6 - 12 Feb I will be taking on the World Marathon Challenge, which involves running 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days. This will be extremely challenging, both physically, mentally and logistically. The marathon locations will be: 

• Novo - Antarctica 
• Cape Town - Africa 
• Perth - Australia 
• Dubai - Asia 
• Madrid - Europe 
• Fortaleza, Brazil - South America 
• Miami, Florida - North America 

As soon as the race starts, I will have 168 hours (7x24) to finish each of the 7 marathons. This will be my second time running the World Marathon Challenge, successfully completing this in 2017. I am hoping to be one of the few athletes/adventurers in the world to have completed this event twice! 

My story 

I Joined the RAF Regiment back in 2008 and deployed to Afghanistan the following year. On return of my first deployment, I completed my training to become an RAF Regiment Paratrooper. Shortly after this I moved on to my next attachment, working with the parachute regiment, down in South Wales, at RAF St Athan. 

During my second tour, operating around Helmand province, I had an unfortunate accident. Whilst out on foot patrol, mentoring a section of Afghan troops, I stepped on an IED, which blew me off my feet, causing traumatic injuries to my legs. Although both legs took damage from shrapnel, it was my left lower leg that took the majority of the blast. I managed to administer my own first aid, which was mainly patching my legs up and controlling the pain, through morphine injections. I then radioed for back-up and got myself air-lifted back to the main hospital, at camp Bastian. 

Within 24 hours of this happening, I was back at QE hospital, Birmingham. I spent two months in hospital, undergoing several operations, and working closely with the physiotherapists, to re-gain function in my left leg. After being discharged from hospital, it was then time to go into full time rehabilitation! This period laster for 12 months. The main focus was to build my strength back, but I also spent a lot of time working on my balance and proprioception. Shortly after completing my rehabilitation program, I received the news that I was being medically discharged from the RAF Regiment. 

Luckily, the RAF benevolent fund was there to offer plenty of support and to help me with my transition into civilian life. The RAFBF funded various  courses, which later helped me to secure a job as an emergency care assistant for the East Midlands Ambulance service.