Running over Mountains for Charity

Everest Trail Race 2017: 160km over 6 days with 95,000ft of elevation change:

My Name is Paul Martin and I am raising funds for Claire House Hospice and Habitat for Humanity by taking part in the 7th annual Everest Trail Race, a 160km trail race in the Himalayas. Please help by supporting my fund raising mission:

By providing specialist nursing care and emotional support, Claire House Hospice help families smile again when life couldn’t get any tougher. A £25 donation could pay for an hour’s play therapy for a seriously or terminally ill child to enjoy.

Habitat for Humanity is directly supporting more than 10,000 severely affected families in 15 communities following the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal on 25th April 2015. A £50 donation can help us build the foundations for a bamboo home in Nepal.

The Challenge:

On November 5th 2017 I will be flying to Kathmandu in Nepal to take part in the 7th Everest Trail Race.

The ETR is one of the world’s toughest high-altitude ultra-marathons. It’s a 6 day multi-stage, semi-sufficient race taking place in the remote Solukhumbu region of Nepal where athletes will be required to carry all they need with the exception of food for meals and a tent. As with most multi-day races, I am informed a change of clothes will be a luxury! The race is best conveyed with a couple of simple stats:

- 6 Stages
- 160 Kilometres (100miles)
- Over 29,000m (95,000 ft) of elevation change with cumulative ascent equal to climbing the height of Everest from sea level…TWICE!)
- High altitude, race is run between 2000m and 4500m above sea level
- Temperature range from 20 degrees during the day to -10 degrees at night

Finishing the ETR will be a huge personal challenge. My physical and mental strength will be tested as I compete, completely out of my comfort zone, having never competed in a multi-stage race, run at altitude, or run up/down mountains remotely close to the ascents/descents I’ll be facing…  that and I’m not that keen on camping!  I can expect to spend between 6 and 12 hours a day on my feet, relentlessly climbing, running long quad busting descents, battling technical terrain, all at high altitude!... Joy…

Further info on the race can be found at: http://everesttrailrace.com

Why?

‘So why?’ I hear you ask. Since taking up endurance sport I have been inspired by the achievements of others; the challenges faced, embraced, and hurdles overcome in reaching their goals. I have been fortunate to enjoy the comradery, experiences and adventure that sport has to offer, to have met people who have inspired me and encouraged me to take on challenges, test my limits and resolve, and to push myself further than I ever thought possible. It has provided me with a newfound self-confidence in pursuing my ambitions, whilst benefiting from the physical and mental gains that regular exercise promotes.

 When I have been down, depressed or anxious, dwelling over other aspects of my life, sport has offered me escapism and more importantly, perspective. I am hugely grateful to have a home, an education, a job, the love and support of family and friends, and to be in good health.

This enormous challenge is simply an opportunity for me to help raise money to support those who have not been granted the same opportunities that I have, and may never experience the freedom and independence in life that being healthy, fit and able provides.

The Aim:

I am using this opportunity to raise money for two Charities: Claire House Children’s Hospice and Habitat for Humanity.

Claire House Children’s Hospice is a local charity based in the North West that helps seriously and terminally ill children live life to the full by creating wonderful experiences and bringing back a sense of normality to family life. By providing specialist nursing care and emotional support they help families smile again when life couldn’t get any tougher.
For more info on the work Claire House in the North West please visit:

http://www.clairehouse.org.uk/

Habitat for Humanity are an international humanitarian aid organisation whose mission is to build a safe environment where families and communities can thrive. Access to decent housing is the foundation to achieving essential human rights, such as education, property, food and privacy. Following the devastating 7.8 magnitude earth quake that hit Nepal on 25th April 2015, Habitat for Humanity has provided assistance to more than 43,700 families through various disaster response programmes. Their “Build Nepal” strategy aims for a long-term, post-earthquake recovery programme of five years, hoping to directly support more than 10,000 severely affected families in 15 communities or Village Development Committees with an estimated project implementation cost of US$ 15 million. For more info on the work Habitat for Humanity are doing in Nepal, please visit:

https://www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk/what-we-do/where-we-work/asia-and-pacific/nepal

Can you help?

All the money raised will be split and donated to my two chosen charities with gift aid added. 

Join The Team:

Although an indicvidual effort, I will be racing the ETR under the team name North Endurance and I will be commissioning a custom race jersey to wear for the event, to carry the names of sponsors, charities I am supporting and the names of all those people who have donated towards my causes, who will, as such, make up ”my team”. 

It will provide me with huge motivation during the inevitable dark moments of the race and training to think of all those who have encouraged me, are supporting me, and to know that together we are doing something positive for those less fortunate.

As well as posting regular training updates through my GoFundMe page, you can follow my progress and journey at:

Web: www.Northendurance.co.uk
Instagram: @North_endurance
Twitter: @North_endurance

Race Jersey

Thank You!

Thanks for taking the time to read my campaign. If you are able to offer any sponsorship and support to my chosen causes, that would be fantastic! Please feel free to share this page with friends, family and colleagues.

If you are able to offer any other support, have further questions about the event or where your pledge will go, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Many Thanks and Namaste

Paul Martin

Instagram @PaulRMartin_
Twitter: @PaulRMartin_
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paul.martin.9461