Exercise the Mind

One thing that has kept me focused and sane during the last 12 months was long bouts of exercise. During this time, I had lots of opportunities to think while on my bike or treadmill. A considerable personal motivation is thinking about my younger brother and father, who unfortunately passed away long before their time. I think about the times we spent together and how lucky I am to watch my own family grow up when they cannot.

As a goal for all this exercise, I planned to sign up for a full distance Ironman event. However, on reflection, this feels like a sub-optimal use of funds. Ironman is a vast corporation backed by an even more giant conglomerate. While I have nothing against businesses, I feel in this case the large event entry fee can be used in better ways. To fix this, I will be taking the Ironman principles (Swim 3.8km, Bike 180km, and Run 42.2km) to create the first North Yorkshire full-length solo Triathlon. The route will go from Ellerton Lake, through parts of the North Yorkshire Moors, and finishing in my home village of Whixley.  

While I am most certainly undertaking this adventure for my benefit, it seems fitting to give any funds I can contribute or raise to a better purpose. My goal is to raise double the equivalent entry fee and general travel expenses to sign up for a UK Ironman event, so £2,000. Both my father and brother experienced various forms of mental health challenges during their lives, and therefore I would like to donate the target funds to Mental Health Research UK. Mental Health Research funds PhD scholarships for research into mental illnesses, their causes and cures. This seems like a much better use of funds than entry fees and reflects issues I personally believe in.

Please join me in supporting Mental Health Research on the 3rd July 2021.