Colin Story

I grew up in North Wales and have always been a lover of the outdoors, Snowdonia was my playground all of my adult life, I started with running, a quite normal story, got hooked entered the London Marathon, my mum was a chairperson for “Imperial Cancer Research” as it was then so I raised funds, did London 7 times and have clocked up 47 city centre marathons all over the world, then I got into Ultra running, so anything upwards of a marathon, was the 5th British Civilian to finish the “Marathon des Sables” in 1996 and again in 1997 6 marathons in 5 days across the Sahara desert, and a few UK Ultras along the way, then came triathlon and the inevitable Ironman triathlon which I chose the toughest in the world “Lanzarote” in 2006, 2007 and 2019 even taking a sabbatical from my London based job to try and compete professionally at my age group.

That aside playing in Snowdonia the yellow RAF Seaking helicopter was always a sight, always coming to the aid of walkers, climbers, runners in the hills as well as sea vessels in the Irish sea, for a time Prince William was the pilot and often I shared a nod of respect to him in the mountains.

In 2020 in between lock down my wife and I along with my son who had one more year left in Primary school uprooted and moved to the NE, my wife is from Sunderland and had always wanted to live in or around Yarm, we initially rented in Ingleby, then bought a house in Eaglescliffe and have now for the last 3 years been settled in Hunters Edge just around the corner from GNAAS, I regularly run and ride passed and can literally see the take offs and landings.

My son managed to get a place in Egglescliffe Primary school which he loved and is now just about to sit his GCSEs at Egglescliffe secondary school where he has had a fantastic education, I think we are happily settled here

I have continued my fitness riding my bike, running and now Crossfit Teeside has become my second home and recently my wife has joined and has become hooked.

Each year since we have lived here we have taken a holiday to Ibiza, we all have fallen in love with the Island, the culture, vibe, music, my son is hooked as well.

Last year I retired from Corporate life I still do some freelance consultancy but am focussed on CrossFit and enjoying riding my bike here, recently my wife announced she had booked a holiday to Ibiza in August and then announced she had only booked flights for herself and my son as she knew how much I needed a fresh adventure so why don’t I ride there on my bike and she will join me for a cold beer at Café Mambo when I arrive! I loved the idea and have begun planning the adventure, sharing this with my fellow cross fitters they suggested I raise money for charity and that’s when I immediately thought of GNAAS, like the yellow SeaKing of Snowdonia GNAAS is now part of my life I hope I never need but know how fantastic a job they do.

A recent twist to the story, my great pal Phil, who I have ridden my bike with for years, 6 years ago had a freak accident on his bike slipping on some leaves, he sustained a massive head injury and without the local air ambulance getting him to stoke where he was placed in an induced coma for 2 weeks we know now he would have died, he has not ridden his bike since, a loss of confidence and memories of that awful fall, he recently visited me for my birthday and I told him about my adventure and my fundraising, well he asked if he could come too and so he is back riding his bike and making the effort to come up from North Wales as much as possible to ride and train with me, he too will raise funds for GNAAS.