Two wheel charity challenge for multi-marathon man Carl
AMARTIAL arts expert from Stockport who last year ran 10 marathons in 10 days is this year taking on an even bigger challenge – on two wheels.
Carl Thomas, 32, has set himself the ambitious target of raising £1m before he turns 40 and plans to take on tougher challenges year-on-year to achieve his goal.
So far he has already raised around £15,000, and next month he will attempt to cycle 1,500 miles – twice the length of the UK – in just 10 days, with no previous cycling experience.
He said: “Each challenge needs to be harder than the last. I will be cycling around 150 miles a day until the last day when I am going all the way from Stirling Castle to Stockport, which is about 300 miles.
“I only got a bike around six or seven months ago. I had a BMX when I was 12 but that’s about it.
“The furthest I have gone in training so far is 150 miles and I couldn’t walk for three days after – and I am going to be doing that every day.
“I’ll have no recovery time, I’ll be cycling for 12 hours a day every day. I have been warned that it could cause kidney failure, which is what happened to Eddie Izzard when he tried to do 27 marathons in 27 days in Africa.
“But it is all in a good cause!”
Carl, who runs the Energise Martial Arts school, is raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust and other cancer charities after being inspired by seeing family and friends affected by the disease, including one friend who is only 19.
While undertaking his marathon challenge he sprained his ankle on the sixth day and was in and out of hospital for a couple of weeks after he finished, but he says he is determined to complete this next feat. He will set off on June 30.
“There are more dangers with this one; I could fall off the bike or be knocked off,” he said. “It’s going to be incredibly tough but I’m just going to have to force myself to do it.
“I have had loads of messages of support from people like Bradley Wiggins and Chris Hoy, lots of people are getting behind it.
“I want to raise £1 million by the time I’m 40 – but if I reach a million before then I’ll gladly stop!”
For more information or to make a donation visit 4areason.co.uk or facebook.com/ carl.s.thomas.1.