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The story:

I sat down over a cuppa one evening and started messing with ideas in my head of what challenge I could do next (I’ve done ultra marathons and mtb challenges in the past). I knew I wanted this one to be huge and I wanted to do it for a good cause!

It wasn’t long before I’d plotted out the UK’s hardest triathlon and convinced myself it was the only thing I wanted to do:

Combining the two UK’s hardest Swim-Run challenges (Paddle Buckley in Snowdonia and Frog Graham in the Lake District), and throwing in the mammoth 321km cycle between each to make it a triathlon… made perfect sense to me.

Totalling:

RUN: 130km (10,300m vert)

BIKE: 320km

SWIM: 7km (8 lake swims)

The next thing I knew I was sending emails and on the phone to everyone I could think of who could offer something to help make it happen.

Before I had time to even comprehend what I was signing myself up for, I had a sports massage and physio support team signed up, a video editor, sponsorship interest, and the realisation it was actually going to happen.

I knew who I wanted to raise money for Brain Kind because brain injury support and help is personal for me. I am fortunate enough to have a relatively tame story, but I know others who have suffered far more.

Personally, through my sporting interests (namely dirt biking) I have suffered two traumatic brain injuries, both of which included some dramatic side effects, personality/emotional changes and difficulties, along with other serious concussion symptoms.

Fortunately, my recovery from each, though long, has been essentially “full”. (But I’m mad enough to think this a sane idea!!)

Brain injuries and concussions are often referred to as the “invisible injury”. Not just because it be hard to detect at first and symptoms hard to recognise. But also because as a sufferer, it can be hard to feel like people can see your suffering or understand what you’re feeling. Of all the injuries I’ve had, my concussions and head injuries have by far been the hardest to deal with.

Trying to explain what I’m experiencing, feeling, the effects, is so difficult. That can be so debilitating and make you feel alone.

I want to raise awareness for brain injuries, not just to show people they aren’t alone and encourage them to reach out when they are suffering, but also to raise awareness for the symptoms and severity. To encourage people to take them seriously, get checked and know when to, to help prevent the serious consequences if left un-checked or treated.

It’s easy to feel like things will never improve when you suffer a brain injury. I’m lucky with my recovery, but other people aren’t, and that struggle continues for them, or worse. So I know this will hurt, I know I’ll want to give up. But I won’t. Because there’s people out there suffering who have to keep pushing on. So I will too, to show that no matter how hard it feels, with the right support, nothing is impossible.

People will say “you’re mad” for doing this. And yeah, I guess they’re not wrong. But I’m happy to be mad if it means what I’m doing is helping others who are suffering.

So please, if you know anyone who has suffered, if you have suffered yourself, or even if you just want to help improve the care and prevention of this - Donate to this cause to help raise recognition, educate and improve care and prevention.

I’ll be doing little videos and staying updated through training and getting as much footage of the event as possible, so you can be along for the ride too.

Thank you for taking the time to read and please know: Every little helps! So even if everyone donates just £1 it will all add up!

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