Rauri leaves for Japan on ultimate endurance test in memory of his friend
RAURI Hadlington took on the biggest challenge of his life yesterday (Monday) when he embarked on the ultimate test of endurance in Japan in memory of his late friend.
London resident Rauri, who is the son of Chris and Eileen owners of Archways B and B in Rosslare, kicked off his ‘Long Week in Japan’ endeavour yesterday. This will see him take on a 1,000 km cycle from Nagano to Lake Toya. He will then complete Ironman Japan which consists of a 3.8 km swim, 180.2 km cycle and a 42.2 km run in three days.
Though the endeavour is a huge undertaking, the 29-yearold physiotherapist said his reason for doing it is simple: Stef. One of Rauri’s oldest friends, Stefan Minoru Bennett was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2011. Rauri and his friends decided to do everything that they could to support him until they sadly said goodbye to him in 2014 when he decided to be taken off life support.
‘ That was undoubtably the bravest decision I have ever known any man make and it gave me the opportunity to say goodbye to a dear friend, a dear friend who, until then had been staunchly guarded about his own mortality,’ writes Rauri on his blog when recalling the moment he learned of his friend’s decision.
‘Part of what we discussed was me doing something to commemorate Stef. To give him a legacy and raise money for the charities fighting the disease he, and his mother died of. #longweekinjapan is that legacy.’
Since the passing of his friend, Rauri has taken on various physical challenges including two marathons and several cycles in preparation for Long Week in Japan. As Stef ’s mother was from Nagano, Rauri felt that it was an appropriate location to kick off his biggest challenge yet.
‘ This is about me remembering Stef. About me thanking Stef for making me a stronger, better person and about his memory raising funds that can make real change for the lives of people suffering with MND so that it doesn’t have to be a life sentence,’ he said.
‘If all else fails this will be an epic journey for me to honor a dear friend, but everyone’s invited along for the ride!’
Rauri will be tracking his journey on his blog www.longweekinjapan.wordpress.com/, on Twitter under the hastag #longweekinjapan and on activity tracker Strava. He has already raised £7,400.04 through his Just Giving Page and is hoping to surpass £10,000.
As his journey goes on, his friends and family at home will be cheering him on from afar.
‘Rauri wanted to do something in Stef’s memory so he decided to take on the Ironman event in Japan. Unfortunately, it was cancelled but Rauri being Rauri decided he would do it anyway,’ said Rauri’s father Chris. ‘His team includes Stef ’s father Jan and our other son Gerry, as well as Rauri’s girlfriend Sophie who is a doctor.’
According to Chris, Rauri has been training regularly in Wexford, taking the long trip over from London to train on Mount Leinster and around the county.
‘We’re really happy and very very proud of him,’ said Chris.