Making it to the IPF World Masters Powerlifting Championship

My name is Darren Scarfe, I have been given the honour and privilege of representing Great Britain in the IPF World Masters Championships in Sun City, South Africa between October 4th to October 14th 2024.

This is the pinnacle of Powerlifting with IPF recognized as the most respected federation in the world as well as the largest powerlifting organization in the world.

This is where the best of the best compete. The IPF is viewed as the best in the world because of their standards of competition.

With Powerlifting being a self funded sport, I am in pursuit to raise funding to assist in financially supporting my attendance for a chance in a lifetime opportunity.

The target amount would play a huge part in the logistics of attending an International event. Including travel expenses, accommodation expenses, anti-doping fees, participation fee, team apparel, food etc.

Just some of the costs;

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-Flights £850 plus travel to London airports

-Accommodation £130 per night x 10

-Transfers approx £100

-Team tracksuit/equipment £300

-Banquet tickets £40

-anti-doping £60

-participation fees £100.

-meals £50 per day

Any extra cash left over will be donated to MIND charity on behalf of my Story.

Achievements:

IPF M2 120kg+

1st 2023 British Championship

1st 2024 All Englands Championship

2nd 2024 British Championship

EPA & YNEPF record holder

S-230 B-175 D-292.5 T-690

******Please read my Story*****

My Story:-

Then:

In January 2021 I was at my lowest point ever in my life. I was physically and mentally very Ill. I had Covid and got diagnosed initially with Covid Pneumonia and glass lung. I was initially on oxygen in the hospital after a major breathing attack where I thought I was going to die.

When discharged from hospital, the following weeks I needed help to wash myself, forgot totally how to drive my car, my memory about past events was very hazy, no sense of direction plus getting cold sweats, not able to go to the toilet and having dizzy spells when getting up sudden. I couldn’t even manage to do a single press-up and lost 4 stone in 5 weeks and also had insomnia.

When out walking, people commented that I looked like I had a stroke. I was trailing my legs and had nerve damage in my right leg, needing Donna (My Partner) for support in crossing roads and keeping myself safe.

All of this meant I was not in control, I was getting urges to harm myself and I tried taking my own life on 3rd March 2021 . This meant a trip to Northern General to sew up my chest wounds and go to Sheffield Hallamshire to sew up my neck wounds. Yes, I really meant business and very fortunate that there is no long-term physical disability. I cannot believe that I got to that low point, but illness had taken over. I was suffering long term Covid with psychosis and delirium.

I just wish I would have asked for help sooner; not thinking I can deal with this on my own. If not for my Son, Conner coming Home from a walk and me ‘snapping out’ of it I would probably no longer be here. I am very thankful for the support of my Family and Friends xx

I had to have 5 weeks further in hospital after this incident as I was still very Ill, feeling ashamed of myself, a failure and I was going to lose everything, my job, the house, my family, everything!

Now:

I’ve come through it and bouncing back to Darren Scarfe mk 2. It’s good to reflect how far I have come. I still have lots of living to do and I’m going nowhere. All the support of nurses and Drs along with work colleagues and friends have really helped in my recovery so far.

I started doing Strongman at 46-47 years old until illness in early 2021 After a brief spell mid to Late 2022 continuing Strongman I moved over to doing powerlifting in Jan 2023 at 49 years old. In the space of 1.5 years I have used powerlifting as my major hobby and I am blessed on how far I have come. It will be an absolute pleasure and honour to represent Great Britian in the IPF World Championships in Sun City, South Africa 2024.

People say my recovery has been phenomenal for what I have been through; I don’t know about that, but I know I’m grateful for my life, my family and friends and blessed to be in this great position.

Finally, anyone out there suffering please, please get help. I thought I had it under control; I was a mental health first aider and thought I knew how to keep my mental health good. I was helpless to control what happened because all the things that made my mental health good were taken away by COVID delirium and Steroid Induced Psychosis.

Overall, the message is that you can come through this stronger mentally and physically and achieve great things. There is always hope!

Love and Blessings and thanks for your contribution.

Darren XX