On 7th September the Warrant Officer serving with 27 TLR in Aldershot will be taking on the awesome ‘Man-vs-Mountain’ challenge to raise funds for the charity that has inspired him.
“I was at a presentation given by a former client of Veterans Aid and now an employee. I was so taken aback and moved by his story – and stories of many people like him – that I decided I wanted to raise money for the charity. ”
“The Man-vs-Mountain was me jumping in at the deep end! I sat in my lounge the night before my 37th birthday feeling old and decide that I had to prove to myself that I still had it. I saw the challenge advertised in Outdoor Fitness and paid the entry fee before waking up on my birthday thinking ‘What have I done!’. But it was too late to back out so I have renamed the event ‘Age-vs-Fitness’ and started training.
Full details of the event are on its website where it is described as ‘a brand new and unique running challenge that spans 20 miles over Wales’s most iconic mountain range’. Participants run from sea level to the summit of Snowdon before descending into Dinorwic Quarry to tackle an array of ruthless challenges.
Not for the faint-hearted, they are told, ‘Expect to face lake jumps, ascents, a spot of swimming and a brutal vertical kilometre before you can stumble across that finish line. Nature provides the obstacles. You provide the lungs!’
Gary said, “Preparing for the event has taken over my spare time and it occurred to me that it would be a perfect opportunity to raise money for a great charity like Veterans Aid. I’m aiming for £1,000 but will raise as much as possible through a number of ways – collection buckets, sponsorship and through Just Giving. Gary’s page can be accessed HERE.
“I know I’ve set myself a real challenge that will take me right out my comfort zone, but the pain I go through will help raise money for ex-service members who have fallen on bad times.
VA’s Geoffrey Cardozo said, “Gary is just one example, but a shining one, of the many serving warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers who take our work with ex-Servicemen and women in crisis very seriously. If I had to bet on Man or on Mountain, I’d put all my money on Man every time because this particular one is truly outstanding” .
Picture shows: Gary on an earlier visit to Snowdon with Millie the dog.
