What is this endeavour?

The AFPST 5 Challenge Europe Series Fundraiser is an initiative taking place from December 2024 to September 2025, where AFSPT Athletes and Staff will engage in a series of 5 challenging events across Europe.

Sweden will host an extraordinary 24-hour Skiathlon where participants will push themselves to ski non-stop for an entire day!

Myself as part of a small team of six, will push ourselves both physically and mentally during this challenge. 🌏

After a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2015 and more recently PTSD in 2023. I have tried to test and push my physical endurance over the years, but this challenge will for sure be the biggest test to date. My MS symptoms include; fatigue, left side weakness, numbness in left side and a sensation that my left leg is the weight of lead iron! As a consequence of these symptoms, my general physical balance is hugely affected, I veer off to the left often and have found myself bruised from knocking into walls from lack of spatial perception and regularly falling also. Not to mention the emotional rollercoaster that comes with a new diagnosis, understanding it and trying to manage 'my brain'!

🎿24-hour Skiathlon you say? 🎿

So thinking about the above as I'm writing this, seems madness!! WHY ON EARTH would I put myself through this; I'll tell you why, the power of sport in recovery is second to none, the power of this community is unlike no other I've had the pleasure to be part of. I'm doing this to raise awareness of this fantastic charity, the opportunities and adventures it offers the Wounded, Injured and Sick community of Veterans and Serving Armed Forces Personnel. The trust we have, as beneficiaries in this charity and its staff is truly inspiring for all and I feel extremely grateful to be involved.

I would like others to have these opportunities, I want the power of the para-snow sport world to be as widely recognised as possible, so by each doing a little we can hopefully influence a lot!

Thankyou for your time reading my ramblings, I hate asking for sponsors but if you could spare a little (or a lot!), I will be super grateful and it will mean an awful lot to myself and the team.

Thankyou ❤