With great excitement I’d originally suggested completing a Tough Mudder late last year, but sadly – at least in my mind – it was too late into the autumn to make it happen. Luckily for everyone else I remembered early enough this time to get booked up. Starting with the Urban 5K – yes team, let’s make this a regular thing – means that it’s accessible to anyone who wants to take part; so no excuses in other words.
It really is going to demand some big team energy though, with obstacles like the Human Pyramid, Hero Walls, Devil’s Beard and the wonderfully-named Skidmarked to overcome. But my personal challenge will be high obstacles as I have an abject fear of heights. Primal and irrational, even scaling a child’s bunk bed to change sheets is a problem. So the two storey-high A-frame cargo net challenge known as Next Level is going to be an absolute treat! If I can conquer that monster, it will be a huge personal win.
Of course, everyone has their own concerns. For Lily, like me, it’s Next Level. For others, including Zen and George, it’s the skill and balance required for Texas Hold ‘Em – a challenge where you pair up to balance your weight and coordination whilst working your way down a see-sawing triangular platform.
We thought that whilst we’re busy training for all the running, jumping, lifting, shimmying and climbing – what have I gotten myself into?! – that’ll be required, we would also like to raise some money for a campaign that’s close to FHA’s hearts, White Swan.
Operating in our space, White Swan is a charity with a mission to improve the health of society, both by helping to prevent illness and by accelerating the path to wellness through using data science capabilities. It was founded in 2015 by data science company Black Swan, a FieldHouse client, and grew from CEO and founder of Black Swan Steve King. It came from his experience of using their technology and expertise to help clinicians diagnose his sister, who had previously been wheelchair-bound with a rare form of Parkinson’s and told to expect the worst. She’s now receiving treatment and is able to lead a normal life with her family.
They are a really incredible, tech for good charity and now work across a variety of areas including mental health, dementia, arthritis and Parkinson’s as well as rarer conditions. You can check out some of the case studies of their work here.
So if you would like to help us raise some money for a good cause, you can donate via Just Giving. In return, we will of course update you on how we get along and share the inevitably embarrassing photographic evidence. In the meantime, if you need me, I’ll be at the gym ahead of the big event on Friday 4th October.
