On 11 January 2025 I am taking part in the Montane Winter Spine Race Southern Challenger race and am raising funds for the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team.

The Spine Race is an epic adventure up the spine of Britain from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland - 268 miles. I am doing the Southern Challenger which is from Edale to Hardraw in North Yorkshire, 108 miles in under 60 hours with about 18000 feet of ascent/decent.

I have been lucky enough to be part of the 'Spine Family' having served on the safety team twice, based at the infamous Auchope hut on top on the Cheviots straddling the border to Scotland.

It an incredible race - it gives you everything nature can throw at you: wind, rain, snow and lots of mud. It is unsupported and you have to carry all your supplies. I am not expecting it to be easy, but I like an adventure and a challenge. I am realistic that many things can end the race early: injury, navigation error, weather, equipment failure - there is on average a 50% non-completion rate - getting to the startline is just first obstacle.Do watch the video at the top for a flavour of things

I am raising money for the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team. My local team that I am proud to have been a member of for a few years. Mountain rescue teams do far more than you realise. Not only do they rescue people and animals from all sorts of environments (flooding for example). They are expert searchers, provide 4x4 back up to other emergency services during treacherous weather and often deploy to other parts of the country in support of other teams or the police. They are all highly trained volunteers who receive no pay and have to buy their own equipment. The teams receive no government funding and rely on donations. They are there for you and your loved ones 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The live tracking link will go live in January: https://live.opentracking.co.uk/spinechallsouth25/

My Bib number is 314.

Thank you

Martin

https://www.cbmrt.org.uk/

https://www.thespinerace.com/