The Hammerthon 2.0 (new PB attempt) for FND Hope

This November 25th (2023), I will be attempting to set a new PB for 'The World's First Hammerthon' which previously entailed me completing over 28,000 sledgehammer hits in a single day for charity

In the time since that challenge I've completed the worlds longest yoke carry, smashed a 420lb, 1 mile carry / drag / march super barbarian challenge in 2 hours 30 minutes, and carried a 100lb rock up a mountain for a "trial", changed diet (a lot), been humbled by new sports, life experiences and people... in other words I have done a lot of failing, learning and growing

It's also in that time that I was made of aware of functional neurological disorder (FND), through meeting my parter, Katie. She was diagnosed with FND three years ago

FND is an extremely difficult and under-researched condition, it is still not known entirely what causes this condition with estimates only pointing towards trauma, head injuries, extreme mental health problems and more... it's a very grey area where neurology and psychiatry has struggled to pay attention and unite until lately

Those who suffer with FND go through hell every single day, with symptoms including (but not limited to): functional seizures (which can incur temporary paralysis, extreme soreness and aches that rival almost any challenge I've undertaken, no seriously the amount of pain a seizure can incur is extremely brutal), tremors, speech impairment, visual changes, chronic pain (this is where the nervous system sense pain despite their being no actual cause, it's pain for the sake of pain), cognitive changes and problems like persistent brain fog, sleep problems and insomnia, anxiety to the point of massive panic attack episodes, depression, disosiation, fatigue, IBS, headaches and facial pains, breathing problems, even PTSD itself and far more. Conditions present differently from person to person.

When I learnt what FND was, I learnt just how grateful I am for the health I have, the loving parents and peers around me and despite the journey I have been on with my own mental health blows and morbid obesity I honestly feel like I got it pretty damn good compared to anyone who suffers with FND

Seeing what Katie goes through every single day motivates me to be better. She is without a doubt one of the strongest humans I have ever met on my journey - seriously, you think what I put myself through is hard? try walking a day in an FND suffers shoes

Getting to choose how you suffer is a privilege, not everyone get's to choose. Some of us are robbed of this choice. It is because of this that I choose to willingly take on another challenge to help spread awareness and raise donations for FND hope UK

Even if you cannot spare anything financially right now, do an even greater act. Share this fundraiser, read up on FND and together we can help bring this condition out of the darkness and into the light where ground breaking research may help those who suffer not just recover, but to also have a voice

More information about FND Hope -UK: We promote awareness of FND through education and raising public understanding in England and Wales. We are dedicated to supporting those individuals affected with functional symptoms by advancing research into practical applications for the prevention, treatment and recovery of FND.

We are uniting patients and their families from the UK with leading researchers and advocates to pioneer a new standard of care for FND throughout the world.