The fitness trainer of the M-Sport operation Barry Johnston will cycle 150 miles, run 17 miles and swim the length of three lakes in the Lake District (in the North West of England) this Sunday to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Johnson is also aiming to complete this in less than 24hrs.
“I wanted to do something significant to celebrate my 70th birthday but I also wanted to raise money on behalf of a young man, Peter Knox, who has suffered from Cystic Fibrosis for most of his life. Peter is from my home village in Eaglesfield but is currently studying at Warwick University – he’s very academic but Peter has to endure five hours of physiotherapy and takes up to 200 tablets every day.”
“I did this challenge 25 years ago but in a slightly different format and last time, I completed it in 22 hours and 40 minutes but want to finish it in 22 hours and 30 minutes this time round. There’s no pressure on me or the boys this year though – we just want to raise money for what we consider to be a very worthwhile charity. We’ve had a fantastic response from locals and various sporting stars who want to join us along the way and I’m really looking forward to Sunday.”
Johnston is the trainer of Matt Wilson and Scott Martin, who will partner the 69-year old on the epic challenge. Wilson and Martin are not strangers to such challenges, after completeing a 1000 km cycle around Corsica, cycling over some of the toughest peaks of the Lake District, 740 km Raid de Alpes in Antibes and cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats.
“Scott and I are always up for a challenge and we jumped at the chance to do something in the Lakes which is so close to where we both grew up. Barry has been our trainer for several years and we wanted to help celebrate his birthday and also wanted to help raise money for a good cause. It’s going to be a really hard challenge but after taking part in the Tour de Corse in June and preparing for a triathlon in October, I’d say that our fitness levels are better than ever. We’re aiming to finish the challenge but won’t put too much pressure on ourselves as we have Rallye Deutschland in just under two weeks which we also need to concentrate on.” said Wilson.
Martin siad:“After two big challenges in France over the past year, it’s great to be able to do something in our home country of Cumbria. The Lake District is a beautiful part of the world and I’m really proud to be from the area. We really wanted to help Barry in his mission as he’s been a fantastic trainer over the past few years and we wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for Barry’s help. The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is also a very worthwhile charity and we know that any money we help to raise will go a long way to those that really need it.”
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) affects 1,200 people in Ireland and 2,500 births in the UK. People with CF in the UK are only expected to live 31 years. By the time a child with CF is 10, they are usually taking 40 tablets per day, hours of phisiotherapy, on one or more antibiotics (even when the appear healthy, to suppress the infection) and excercises.
The CF Trust has funded research into the disease and cures. One possible prevention of lung damage, which CF causes, is replacing the faulty gene. The CF Trust is also funding a group of scientists in Edinburgh, Oxford and London who invented a product which can activate the gene and make the lungs fully functional. This reserach will cost £6.5 million and take two years (2010 – 2011) to compelete.
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