To mark five years since Jonathan’s passing, and what would have been his brother’s 30th birthday, Ian has decided to take on a year-long challenge of various events including 10k runs, half marathons, marathons and duathlons. In addition, Ian is considering a Born Survivor assault course event and has set an initial fundraising of £6000 from these events.
Ian will not be alone on his challenge as friends, work colleagues and family members are being encouraged to join him when they can. The first event, the Oulton Park duathlon, took place on Sunday 16 February with three of Ian’s friends, Mike, Antony and Andrew, also taking part, and proved to be much tougher than expected due to the bad weather created by Storm Dennis.
But they all managed to complete the event successfully and have got Ian’s year of fundraising off to a fine start with over £1100 having been raised so far between them.
Further to the other events, Ian and his employer, The Wheatsheaf Inn at Raby on the Wirral, have also organised a 100 mile bike ride on 31 May and are encouraging staff members and customers to get involved. The event will see cyclists of all abilities taking part over five 20-mile laps around the Wirral with participants getting sponsored to do the full 100 miles, just one lap if they prefer or anything in between.
Ian said,
I always had a pact with my brother before he passed away that we would both do for each other things we couldn’t do ourselves. He went to university because he was a lot cleverer than me, and I did physical things he couldn’t do. Jonathan would not have been able to do these type of events due to his muscle wasting condition, so I am going to do them for him in honour of what would have been his thirtieth birthday. Hopefully I can get a few others involved along the way and we can raise some serious money to make a difference.
To make a donation to Ian’s 2020 challenge he has set up a JustGiving page here.
Anyone wanting to join the Wheatsheaf 100 mile Wirral bike ride on 31 May can either register in person at the Wheatsheaf in Raby or contact Ian by email.
The event also has its own JustGiving page.