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What am I doing?

>4 miles 🏊‍♂️ 193 miles 🚴‍♂️ 42 miles 🏃🏻‍♂️ + hundreds of hours of training

On 15th May I'm getting warmed up with a sprint distance triathlon: 750m Swim, 21.2km Bike, 5km Run. This is mainly to regain the sensation of doing all the bits of a triathlon in the same morning, and make sure all the kit fits.

Then on 30th May I head to the Lake District for the Epicman Windermere triathlon: 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride with 1593m climbing, followed by a trail half marathon.

And then the big one... Ironman UK on 4th July: 2.4 mile (4.8km) swim, 112 mile  (180km) bike with 2362m (7751ft) of elevation, followed by a full 26.2 mile marathon. 

Why?

Mainly to prove I can. To push myself further than I've gone before. To grow through adversity. 

So?

The pandemic has shown us all what adversity really means. Although my challenge is controlled and focussed, the adversity we've all gone through has been uncontrolled, all encompassing and inescapable. None of us trained for Covid, for home schooling, for not being able to see family or play with friends. None of us willingly signed up for this challenge.

We've all suffered in our own ways through this year. I found myself truly overwhelmed during my time in ICU in the first wave. Each of us bears our own scars from this period: including children on every street, every school and every town.

I have seen directly the support that Place2Be provide, and I'm so grateful.  We've seen the incredible support they've given our friends who's father died of cancer with two primary school aged daughters. When NHS Child and Adolescent services are stretched beyond breaking point, Place2Be provide 1:1 counselling for children and parents, separately or together, with trained psychologists. They have counsellors in schools who actively reach out, and welcome in any child who's struggling.

There is an old adage in medicine: prevention is better than cure. Place2Be work with children of all ages to build their emotional resiliency so they can grow into strong, emotionally literate and flexible adults. 

Please donate and spur me on through the hills of Northern England as I know that every donation will make a world of difference.