MORE ABOUT ME

In April 2012 I entered the London Marathon. I had always thought that a marathon run was way beyond on my capabilities, but the offer of a place to raise money for an Autistic school was too much to turn down. My body was almost correct in thinking that a marathon was too much for me to endure, but I crossed the finish line with my best hobbled run. Done! I still say it’s the toughest thing I have ever done…………. So far.

 

In August 2012 I was invited to take part in a coast-to-coast bike ride to raise awareness and funds for Prostate cancer. It seemed a totally sensible thing to do when a marathon had almost broken me.

In addition, my application to take part in the 2013/14 Clipper Round the World race was accepted around this time. The first week’s training in a harsh November weather with force nine winds wasn’t enough to put me off. Sea sickness came close though. However, seeing a beautiful new, never been sailed 70ft yacht in St Katherines Dock in London the following January had me hooked. I immediately went from sailing two legs of the race to a circumnavigator. And so, a gap year of sailing began in August 2013 and gave me the opportunity to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer, The Steve Prescott Foundation, and the Rugby League Benevolent fund until I was forced back to the reality of life back on land and wearing shoes in July 2014.

 

August 2015, I entered Ride 24 which is a cycle ride form Newcastle to London that must be completed in under 24 hours. I cycled 312 miles in 20 hours 26 minutes whilst raising money for the great Martin House charity.

 

Next came an invitation to take part in a rowing race from Barcelona to Sardinia, which seemed too much to pass up, something new and out of any comfort zone. The race across to Sardinia was cut short due to an unexpected storm that passed through the Mediterranean Sea and our crew was picked up by the support yacht. I did however get the opportunity to complete crossing the Mediterranean Sea in

a rowing boat, when I skippered a crew of five who rowed the return race. And as the only boat to finish the race due to a second storm in the area we were declared winners.

 

2016 seemed to be a year of challenges. In March of that year, I completed my second crossing of the North Pacific Ocean on a sailing boat. Later in September I competed a solo cycle ride from Lands’ End to John O’Groats in a little over five days. A request from a friend of my father to raise money for a local Down Syndrome charity coupled with Autism UK and SNAPPY (a local respite care charity) allowed me the time to tick off a ride I had wanted to challenge myself with for some time.

 

Feeling that the training for LeJog would possibly have me as fit as I could be giving me the inspiration to challenge myself further by entering Yak Attack, the world’s highest mountain bike race. A journey to Nepal little over 12 months after the region had suffered a severe earthquake brought home how fragile we are on this planet. But the scenery of the countryside took my breath away more than the exertion of the mountain biking. And the friendliness of the people gave me bigger smiles than the racing.

 

A third crossing of the mighty North Pacific Ocean in March 2018 has hopefully brought to a close my winter adventures in that body of water (but only time will confirm that). But a challenge is always required I feel and so I entered the one day, 105-mile run-ride-kayak adventure race in September that year.

 

In December 2019 I returned for the fourth time to the Clipper Round the World Race to take part in Leg 4 and race around Australia from Fremantle to Airlie Beach. Another 4000 Nautical miles added to the logbook along with another great sailing experience and some amazing lessons in sailing.

In 2020 I took part in the Talisker Atlantic Rowing race. Rowing solo across the Atlantic Ocean for 73 days 7 Hours and 2 Minutes whilst the whole world was in lockdown made me feel like I was the lucky one. Rowing towards the finish line brought the reality that my peace was over. And I would have to return to the real world and all its dilemmas.

With lockdown now just a memory I ventured across to Greenland in March 2023 and skied the Arctic Circle trail from Sisimuit to Kangerlussuaq in temperatures between -10 to -30 degrees. Nights in tents again brought home how little luxury we need to survive on this planet.

And now. In April 2023 I will attempt to be the first person to row solo around Britain unsupported. From leaving my starting port to arriving back there I will be self-sufficient and not be stepping on to land for the whole duration.