Why?

Why set up this blog? In 2008 I discovered triathlon and found with it the opportunity to work hard for something and achieve what others call “personal excellence”. Having spent most of my time at school avoiding any kind of sport it was a shock to me that I could even manage to complete a sprint distance triathlon. But after getting round that first event my ambition grew and I have been driven by the goal of seeing just how far I can push my body and mind ever since.

So far it has led me to completing several Olympic distance races and this year (2010) I finished my first middle distance race the Vitruvian. With my sites now set on Ironman this blog is going to be my diary of training highs and lows over the next 10 months whilst I try to get my body into shape to complete my biggest challenge yet, Ironman France 2011.

This blog is my way of reflecting on my journey to Ironman France and sharing as much of it as I can with as many people as possible... this is me.

Raising money for British Red Cross

British Red Cross are a volunteer-led humanitarian organisation that helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are, please support this outstanding charity by sponsoring me to complete my biggest challenge yet Ironman France.

In 2004 I was living on a remote island called Koh Phi Phi in Thailand. On December the 26th a tsunami hit the island causing incredible destruction. Many people lost their lives and more were severely injured,  others were left homeless, homes and businesses were destroyed.

Working as a scuba diving instructor I was usually out on a boat all day and on this day I was fortunate enough to be working when the wave hit. I escaped the destruction and survived unlike so many friends that did not. I finally returned to the island 24 hours after the disaster and arrived to a horror scene. The majority of survivors had been evacuated and it was just aid workers and volunteers left trying to search for any trapped people and recover bodies. Over the days and weeks that followed I helped out as much as I could and during this time the presence of the Red Cross was clearly evident and the support they gave to everyone that needed it was incredible.

Since 2004 the Red Cross have continued to support regeneration of the effected areas, not just within Thailand but also across the globe in other countries. Their efforts have helped rebuild the lives of those that were so badly effected by this freak event and it is for that reason I have decided to raise as much money as I can to continue to support such an incredible charity. You can sponsor me here.

If you would like to find out more about how the British Red Cross helped victims of the Tsunami please visit this link http://www.redcross.org.uk/tsunami.