Two former rugby teammates are preparing to push themselves to the limit in an extraordinary one-day endurance challenge across the Island, to support Mountbatten Isle of Wight.
Endurance enthusiasts Sam Tyson and Kemp Price will swim, cycle and run 100 miles in a single day on 11th July to raise vital funds for the Island’s hospice charity.
A test of endurance
Their ambitious route begins with a two-mile ‘pier-to-pier’ sea swim from Sandown to Shanklin, before the pair immediately set off on a gruelling 70-mile cycle around the Island’s coastline.
To finish, Sam and Kemp will take on a 28-mile run following the iconic Walk the Wight route, with an additional Newport loop added to ensure they complete the official ultramarathon distance before crossing the finish line at Freshwater Bay.
Sam said,
“Anyone who’s done Walk the Wight knows it feels like far more than a marathon.
“The elevation alone is tough, even on fresh legs. Combining that with a full Island cycle and a sea swim is going to be a serious test of endurance.”
Why Mountbatten matters
The pair said they wanted to take on a challenge big enough to inspire people to support Mountbatten at a time when many charities are facing increasing financial pressure.
Sam added,
“People don’t have money to spare right now, so we knew it had to be something significant.
“Lots of people have cycled around the Island or completed Walk the Wight on their own, and they know how hard those are individually. Doing all three together is what makes this such a challenge.”
Sam and Kemp are aiming to complete the feat in between 12 and 14 hours.
Sam joked,
“Hopefully we’re not still going at two in the morning.
“But if we are, we are.”
Raising the bar
Originally setting themselves a fundraising target of £2,000, after strong early support, the duo has set their sights on raising £5,000 for Mountbatten’s end-of-life care and bereavement services.
Kemp said,
“My dad has recently had Mountbatten support him at home.
“Once that care touches your family, you realise just how important it is.”
How the funds help
Funds raised from the challenge will help Mountbatten continue providing 24/7 expert care across the Isle of Wight. Around 85 per cent of that care is delivered in people’s homes, alongside support provided through the charity’s inpatient unit in Newport and outpatient and day services at the John Cheverton Centre on the same site.
Community backing and how to support
The challenge is already attracting support from across the Island community. Beach Boys Water Sports will provide safety cover during the swim, while friends and family will assist the pair throughout the day.
Members of the public are also invited to join Sam and Kemp for parts of the challenge, including sections of the cycle and running route, although they stress this is not a formal event and participants take part at their own risk.
Support Sam and Kemp by sponsoring them via the Just Giving website.
Follow their updates on their Instagram account.
News shared by Jax on behalf of Mountbatten. Ed
