Saving a life, inspired by Bob Graham

Last weekend I supported one of my best buddies who completed the Bob Graham, an insane test of physical human endurance and mental resilience. Only around a quarter of those brave enough to attempt it finish in time.

You have 24 hours to run, self navigate 106km, ascend and descend 8,200m (effectively up and down Everest). There is no time to sleep. You run through the night and through the heart of the tallest peaks in England.

I ran alongside him for the last 1/4 and it’s the proudest I’ve ever been of him. He busted his knee halfway through but NEVER gave up. We shared such special moments of grit, emotion, pride, and support.

My biggest takeaway from this weekend filled with love was that this achievement is a perfect example of how much a team can achieve together. It was far larger than my mate fighting off every demon and slaying every mountainous dragon. It was his family driving around the valleys through the day and night to support him at every stop. It was his friends and siblings running alongside him every step of the way. Urging him on through hoarse voices and sleepy eyes. The care, the screams of encouragement, the rush to refill waters and fuel during the short and sacred pit stops. The urgent attention to wounds. His mothers hug and fathers reassurance that he could do this. Everyone played a part.

I am so inspired by it all, that I wanted to share it with you. As I thought the story of what we can achieve together can inspire you too.

I’m raising money for Malaria Consortium. Most of you reading this will never have had to worry about Malaria. This is different for the 600,000 people who sadly lose their lives to this disease every year.

Most who die are children under five. That’s a child every minute, from a disease we’ve known how to prevent for 70 years.

Malaria consortium is one of the most effective charities in the world, as found by GiveWell. They protect children from malaria by distributing preventative medication. + £5 provides one child with antimalarial medication for a full malaria season (4/5 months). + And £3,000 results in a whole life being saved. A whole human life that would otherwise not be here, without our money. Saving a life would be a lifetime achievement for many. This can be us.

To get the ball rolling I’m donating £500. I hope this wonderful example of human connection has inspired you, to continue the lengths we can go to as a team.

No matter how big or small, your donation WILL make a profound difference. ALL, 100% of the money donated goes directly to Malaria Consortium.

Who knows how many children’s lives we could save? :)