Dear friends,

There comes a time in many peoples' lives where a significant event can force a period of reflection and a subsequent reorganisation of priorities. For me this event happened a couple of months ago when I was given life-saving brain surgery. Thanks to a combination of incredible medical professionals and a healthy dose of luck, I have survived and I have decided that I want to do more to help others whilst at the same time improving myself. This page is where the process begins.

I have chosen Breast Cancer Care as a suitable charity to raise money for. With around 50,000 new cases of breast cancer in women reported in the UK each year, and 350 for men, breast cancer is a condition that affects the lives of individuals and families everywhere. With breast cancer devastating entire families it is everyone's responsibility to check the health of their breasts (and yes guys that means you too!) and remind loved ones to do the same. Breast Cancer Care is doing wonderful work providing information, support and care for anyone affected. 

So raising awareness and money to help fund the care of cancer sufferers and their families is my starting point for helping others, here is what I am doing for myself.

A good friend of mine once told me that "trying your best is never good enough". Whilst initially appearing harsh, this is a sentiment that I really do buy into. It is all too easy for us to put a modicum of effort into a task and upon failure insist, "but I tried my best". Why should that be the end of it? Yes that performance may have been what you were capable of then, but what can you be capable of tomorrow? Just how much potential do we hold? Well I for one intend to find out. I am not the fittest man around, nor do I believe that I have the greatest mental strength, but I am going to test both my body and my resolve by pushing them both past what I consider to be "my best". It is by doing this, going beyond what I believe I am capable of that I will begin to understand the extent of my own potential.

The first step in working towards my personal and charitable goals will be to jump straight into what is purported to be the toughest 10k even on Earth, Total Warrior. Details of the event can be found at http://www.totalwarrior.co.uk/leeds-branham-park/ but in short the event is an extreme 10k obstacle course designed to make completion the only realistic aim (forget Tough Mudder or Tough Guy, this event is nasty!).

For now I would like to thank you in advance for your kindness in agreeing to donate whatever you can to an extremely worthwhile cause, and supporting me on my journey from hospital bed to... wherever I may end up. Keep checking in, it's going to be quite a ride!

Phil