Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

As some of you may or may not be aware, I am embarking on the adventure of a lifetime in June this year, taking on the delights of the Amazon rainforest in Peru to complete the 230km ‘Beyond The Ultimate’ Jungle Ultra marathon – which means running six marathons in five days… http://www.beyondtheultimate.co.uk/jungle-ultra.asp

How do I find myself facing such a challenge, you may ask? Well, I have two people to blame. The first is my awesome PT:U client Dale Thomas, a lovely guy I helped train in the past, most recently for his first crack at the Jungle Ultra (unfortunately due to illness Dale was not permitted to finish the challenge).

The second culprit is my business partner and friend Aaron Hopkins, who – due to Dale’s unfinished business with the Jungle –­ somehow convinced me it would be a great idea for us to offer the ultimate moral support and do the challenge ourselves: "Imagine, PT:U goes the extra mile with our clients!" However, shortly after signing up Aaron unfortunately injured his knee, requiring extensive surgery. But as they say, the show must go on… solo! 

Totally out of my comfort zone (did I mention I hate running?), I’ll be facing humidity levels approaching 100%, running over one of the toughest jungle terrains in the world, potentially encountering dangerous wild animals – from spiders and snakes to jaguars and caiman, to name just a few – and being completely self-sufficient,
carrying my own hammock, sleeping bag, food and supplies for the entire race... (What, no iPhone?!)

This will honestly be the biggest and most difficult challenge I will have had to face in my life.

Therefore I am dedicating my Jungle Ultra efforts and experience to raise support and awareness for a young charity that will make great use of the funds we raise – the MS charity Shift.ms. http://shift.ms/

Introducing Shift.ms

Some of you may know that my beautiful wife Natasha was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2008 at the age of 23. I have seen just how hard it can be for a young person to deal with such an often-misunderstood, challenging and as yet incurable disease, and how this can have such an isolating impact on their life.

Some of the information on the condition that was available at the time made it seem that Natasha was faced with a lifetime of doom and gloom, with little opportunity or resources to connect with other people in a similar position to herself. Shift.ms really helped us to change that perception.

It is the social network for people with MS, run by MSers for MSers – a volunteer community helping people to connect, to talk to others who understand and to ask the questions that might have been left unanswered.

Help me raise funds

I know I can rely on the support and encouragement of friends, family and clients in helping raise money for this great cause, which I’m also supporting in memory of my late Auntie Betts, who suffered from the effects of MS at a time when unfortunately science wasn't making strides like it is today.

Show support for my best friend and my inspiration Natasha, and young people like herself who – despite being faced with the difficulties and challenges MS may cause – have a bright positive future and life ahead of them.

Whatever you can spare, it will make a BIG difference! 

Thank you

Richard 

Take a look at what it’s like to do the Jungle Ultra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQitv2V7kFY

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