Fleet Alliance David’s extreme effort boosts charity

FLEET Alliance commercial director David Blackmore has raised more than £12,000 after running, kayaking and cycling 168 miles in just three days in support of Maggie’s Centres.

Following the extreme three-day, multi-discipline challenge, called Maggie’s X3, the amount raised by colleagues, friends, customers and suppliers was £12,600 – £2,600 ahead of target.

A veteran fundraiser, who has previously participated in four gruelling Maggie’s Monster Bike and Hike events, David Blackmore said he found the event ‘very demanding’.

He started from Maggie’s Centre in Inverness and, on the first day alone, completed a total of 71 miles over six stages, involving road cycling, running, kayaking down Loch Ness and mountain cycling, finishing in Fort William an hour ahead of schedule.

He was accompanied by a support team who met him at the various checkpoints to help him swap equipment. He also had ‘stage buddies’ running and cycling individual stages to keep his spirits up.

Maggie’s also supported David by arranging two sports therapists who kindly gave up their time to provide much-needed massages at the end of each day.

Day two involved a 47-mile run from Fort William to Inverarnan over seven stages, a particularly arduous test as it meant running close to a double marathon distance across some really punishing terrain and climbs including the ominously named ‘Devil’s Staircase’ – an infamous climb located in Glencoe and a focal point of the famous West Highland Way.

In spite of appalling conditions with strong winds and torrential rain, David completed day two on time, though the rigors of the day were beginning to take their toll.