welcome to SEPTEMBER's newsletter
As you are reading this I will have arrived in Tibet to spend 7 weeks in the Himalayas for my final training expedition. I’ll be climbing Cho Oyu, the 6th highest mountain in the world and very much my Everest “Mock Exam”. I’ll be keeping in touch via satellite phone so make sure you all catch me on 737challenge.com, Facebook and Twitter to follow my progress.
The month of August was crazy on a whole new level but the most productive yet. My 737 Challenge team has put together amazing new sponsorship packages, I have had fantastic support and press coverage, and together with the brilliant Limegreentangerine, I have put together phase 2 of 737challenge.com which will be hitting your screens soon. I hope you like it and thank you once again for following and supporting the challenge. All that combined with training, squeezing in my 33rd Birthday, and preparing for Cho Oyu, I won’t lie, it’s been a tough month!
Here are some of the highlights from the month of August, which went by in a flash!
PEN Y FAN 24 HOUR CLIMB
As most of you would have seen, I climbed Pen Y Fan continuously for 24 hours this month as one of my deprivation tests for the challenge. I set off from the Storey Arms with Captain Anthony Harris who only three months before had lost his leg after serving in Afghanistan. It was a humbling and awesome experience climbing with Tony on my first run and the event was supported by Project Mobility 4x4, a charity who convert Landrovers to help conquer fears and mobility issues.
They made sure I was loaded up with plenty of supplies and army ration packs (which were surprisingly tasty!) and I ended up climbing 7 summits in 24 hours. I did sneak in a 40-minute kip at about 9am after 5 summits. I managed to summit 3 times during the night in only a metre visibility so it was pretty tough. It was a really valuable experience for me and proved that physically I still have a lot to do but mentally I am in a good place.
I must thank my mates Ollie and Rob from Boulders in Cardiff who turned up at 3am to climb with me complete with golf clubs! The guys really cheered me up and spurred me on through the toughest part.
» See the video of the climb
737 CHALLENGE PHOTOSHOOT
Steve Williams and I travelled to Premier Park Studios in London for our first 737 Challenge photoshoot and despite me dreading this, it ended up being a really enjoyable day in the end and our photographer Dan Reid did an awesome job at shooting our best angles! You might have seen some of the shots already on Facebook and in some press and when phase 2 of our brilliant website is launched soon you will see many more. There will also be a video from the day coming soon.
KAYAKING FOR CARDIFF BURN
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This month I went out and did some Kayaking as part of my training for the Cardiff Burn, organised by Multisport Wales. Steve and I have decided to enter this event, which is on Sunday 24th October as some extra training before the 737 Challenge begins. I kayaked up the River Taff, past the Millennium Stadium and up through Bute Park & Pontcanna fields. |
I’m really looking forward to Cardiff Burn. It’s awesome that an event like this is coming to Cardiff Bay. I do a lot of cycling and running as part of my training but have never been in a Kayak before, so was very grateful to Multisport Wales for the opportunity to get out on the water. |
PACKING AND HEADING OFF TO CHO OYU
The hardest thing about heading off for another expedition is the packing (see picture of my room – carnage!) - it takes forever! I have also been Twittering about what luxury item I should take to Cho Oyu in Tibet. As my last big expedition before the 737 Challenge starts it’s essential preparation. Each expedition I allow myself one luxury item to take, it’s tough to decide each time! Weight is everything and I even cut my toothbrush in half to save on weight. One of my favourite suggestions from Twitter was Angels Delight! I have decided it’s the home comforts I crave most when I am away, last time I went to Denali with retro sweets, this time I am going with my favourite film food. I have downloaded new films to watch on my new ipod in case I get stuck in another storm and have to stay in my tent for days so I have opted for a bag of Maltesers which I love eating whilst watching a movie!
On a serious note, Cho Oyu is a challenging mountain, the 6th highest in the world in fact at 8,201m/26,906ft. It will be my first time in the ‘Death Zone’, around 7,900m, the point at which there isn’t enough oxygen in the air to support human life. I will be using supplementary O2 and it really will test my kit, oxygen and my ability to acclimatise above 8,200m and perform at altitude. I am looking forward to the expedition physically and mentally.
CLIMBING AT BOULDERS
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I have been doing a lot of climbing over the last month. Boulders in Cardiff have been hugely supportive of my challenge and I have been making the most of their generosity by climbing lots at the centre. It’s essential to refine my technique, this will improve my ability to move efficiently over all types of terrain. |
It goes without saying that my rope work and skills and being comfortable with exposure is pretty vital, mountains on my challenge such as Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia have really gnarly elements and technical climbs so this will help me immensely. Cho Oyu also has a tricky abseil at around 7,000 metres. |
SNOWDON WITH ITV WALES AND HILLARY
Another important training session for me was a hike up Mount Snowdon this month. ITV Wales filmed my climb and I started my day off at Pen-Y-Gwryd hotel, an amazing pub and hotel in Snowdonia, which was built in 1810. It was used as training headquarters for the first successful Everest climbing expedition in 1953 by Hillary and Tenzing. Whilst I was there filming I got to look at memorabilia and pictures from that first expedition.
» Watch the video of the ITV Wales feature
HELP ME RAISE 1 MILLION POUNDS FOR MARIE CURIE CANCER CARE
One of the aims for the 737 Challenge is to raise 1 million pounds for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Please help me get the ball rolling by donating to Marie Curie through our just giving page. All you need to do is visit our website; 737challenge.com and click on the donate button – it’s that simple. Whether you donate £1, £5 or £100, every penny counts and your money will really make a difference to the lives of cancer patients. Thank you for your support.
VIRAL MARKETING IN THE APPLE STORE!
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Before I left for Cho Oyu I popped in to the Apple store in Cardiff to pick up a new cover for my ipod. Whilst we were in the store, my mate and I couldn’t resist doing a spot of viral marketing so we set the home page to 737challenge.com on every screen in the shop! |
Slightly naughty I know but we couldn’t pass up such an opportunity! |
THE QUEST FOR SPONSORSHIP CONTINUES
As some of you may know, to date I have funded my training and expedition costs using all my savings and have even moved home with my parents. There’s no way of wrapping this in cotton wool, I need to raise considerable funds to ensure I even get on the plane in December to fund my challenge. The reality is that your sponsorship makes the 737 Challenge possible. Quitting is not in my nature though and I will not give up on the mountains neither will I in my quest to get to the bottom of them.
Luckily the 737 Challenge team and myself have put together an amazing sponsor document, which you can view by clicking here. We are confident that the challenge is a fantastic investment and have demonstrated this. There are 3 packages available meaning there are sponsor opportunities for everyone, whether you are a local business or a national or global company. So please have a read or pass on to anyone that you think would be interested in sponsoring the challenge and being part of a world first. You can read the 737 Challenge Sponsorship Pack by clicking here. For further info, email; sponsorship@737challenge.com
MY MUM’S CHARITY NIGHT
The night before I left for Cho Oyu, my mum organised a fundraising event in Newport for friends and family and I cannot thank my mum and dad and all the people that came along enough. It was an awesome event and it is humbling to know that so many local people are behind me and the challenge. We had a raffle with some amazing prizes, which were kindly donated by the likes of Celtic Manor, Hilton Hotel, Newport Gwent Dragons and Marks and Spencer. Thank you, thank you, thank you, to everyone!! We raised around £3000 (still totting up as I write!) and everyone had a great night. Big thanks to the amazing Big Mac Wholly Soul Band (great tunes guys, thanks!) and Sarah Lucas and the Burleigh Academy for their generosity and support.
LAST MINUTE CHECK UPS!
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It’s important that before I go on any expedition that I get all the regular check ups so I popped in to see my mate and dentist Reece Jones in Tonypandy to have a quick once over and am relieved to say that all was well! |
MISSING MY DOG BEN AND MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY
The hardest thing about leaving for an expedition is knowing how much I will miss friends and family. I’m going to miss my dog Ben loads. He’s my number one training partner and often joins me on my runs and cycle rides. He’s even started getting press! Not only did he keep running in to shot behind my media wales video he featured in a recent article for the South Wales Argus! |
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| South Wales Argus’ Chris Wood, me and Ben! |
MY NEW TRAINING BIKE ARRIVES FROM GIANT
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Last week my new training bike arrived courtesy of Giant. Cycling is a massive part of my physical training for the challenge and I cycle and run around 200 miles each week. Thanks to Giant for kitting me out with the best bike and gear, I look forward to breaking in the new bike on my return! |
CAMEO CLUB HOOK ME UP!
Last week I picked up my first ever Satellite phone, which I will be using in Tibet to phone back home. My Iridium phone was kindly donated by the Cameo Club in Cardiff who also host our regular 737 Challenge team meetings. Their support has been amazing throughout the past few months and I can’t wait to use my Sat phone in the Himalayas to ensure I keep you all updated on our progress on Cho Oyu. It looks like a proper old school mobile phone and slightly chunkier than my iphone but it does the job from the most inaccessible locations in the world so it’s perfect for me and the 737 Challenge.
WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT?
I’m currently in Tibet climbing Cho Oyu with Steve Williams who is joining me on the challenge for the Everest and North Pole legs. We return mid October. Whilst I am away I will be keeping you up to date with our progress. My events team will also be busy putting together a very special event for December and there will be lots more on that soon. The new look 737challenge.com will be launched this month too, even know I am away there will be plenty happening! When I return I will also be competing in the Cardiff Burn on the 24th October.
See you all soon!
www.737challenge.com
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