4 Weeks To Go

4 weeks to go until the challenge and my legs are starting to feel the effects of training. 8 miles of walking up and down the hill to work each day, usually with my backpack and my golf bag, is causing some relationship conflicts between me and my legs. Add to that a round or two of golf, a gym session, a 10k run or a Yoga class each day, and you begin to understand why. 
  

Whilst it is hard to prepare for playing 10 rounds in a day, I am trying to get in as much walking and running as I can. Predictably, my knees, calves and feet are going to be hating me towards the last couple of rounds, so any preparation I can do to get them used to that is effective in my book. 
  

As well as building up my strength and endurance, working on my flexibility is key also. Being supple and being able to swing throughout the day without added strain or stiffness will help no-end come June 27th. I am 6 weeks into my yoga and feeling the difference it is making. Whilst am I no guru when it comes to downward dog or shoulder stands, I can feel improvement and feel the post-yoga fatigue in my core, legs & shoulders.
  

So what do I have in store for the last 4 weeks. First goal is to climb Ben Nevis. The 10-round challenge day will involve climbing 5000ft+ throughout the day, a shade more than the height of Ben Nevis, the UK's largest peak. So to me, and perhaps only me, it makes sense to climb Nevis... with my golf bag.
  

My first planned climb was cancelled due to bad weather. The talk of "ice axes, crampons and climbing equipment" was enough to take a rain-check last month. But I am hoping with the holiday weekend ahead, I can celebrate the 

Queen's jubilee by climbing the highest mountain in her 

Kingdom.
  

Other than that, I have a few interviews to do. I'm talking with Josh Marris on Thursday, the Australian pro golfer who walked 10 rounds in a day last year. I have an interview with a Florida TV Station to do and I am also going to talk with PGA Tour pro, my former college roommate and the highly opinionated, Russell Knox (pictured), to get his opinion on the challenge.
  

Finally, I will be talking with a local group of physios to get their take on how I should be finishing my preparation, dealing with the day itself and how to cope with the post-challenge recovery.
  

Anyway, that is the update for today. Check back later this week for my interview with Josh and as always please keep the support and donations coming!
  

28 days...

Mishcon de Reya Law Firm

Massive thanks to the Mishcon de Reya Law Firm. They considered the challenge for one of the causes that their company could support and decided to donate £250 to the challenge.

Founded in 1937, Mishcon de Reya is a law firm with offices in London and New York offering a wide range of legal services to companies and individuals.

They operate in every area of the law and pride themselves in providing a best in class service to its clients. Specifically we offer the following legal services: corporate; dispute resolution; employment; family; private client; and real estate.

For more information on Mishcon de Reya, visit: Mishcon.com

34 days...

Fellow 10-Round Challenger: Josh Marris

Many of you have heard me mention that more people walking the planet have walked on the moon, than walk 10 rounds in one day. Well, one of the men that has is Josh Marris, an Australian pro golfer, who completed the challenge in September 2011.

 

I have been in touch with Josh to discuss our similar interest in golf and over-confidence in thinking we are fit enough to last 180 holes. He has kindly agreed to do an interview with yours truly, so stayed tune for that coming here soon.

 

Until then, I encourage you to read through his challenge via the link below. Josh was raising money for the Queensland Institute of Medical Research after learning that his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, just days after his Aunt underwent her final chemo treatment for the same thing. 

 

Tip of the cap to you Josh!

 

http://joshmarris.com/TheChallenge.aspx

Fund Raising Masquerade Dinner

What a night.

After weeks of planning and nagging friends, family and colleagues to attend, the fund raising dinner was a massive success.
  

125 masked guests attended and all were extremely generous on the night. Speeches from myself and Make-A-Wish Scotland manager, Carolyn Thornton, preceded a great dinner at the MacDonald Holyrood Hotel. Many people came up to me talking about the impact the Make-A-Wish video had on them, and how they were moved by the stories they heard.
  

Willie's after dinner speech

Willie Hunter, 32 years after giving the best man's speech at my father's wedding, gave a very entertaining speech following the dinner and then lead the auction and raffle which raised a lot money for Make-A-Wish. Lots of interest in the auction items, and the they were heavily bid on, raising more than £2,000 combined.

4-ball day at Gleneagles - £500 (Ian Carruthers)

Signed Chris Hoy World Championship Skinsuit - £450 (Atholl Duncan)

Signed & Framed Chelsea Shirt - £300 (Stuart Mack)

Man Utd Tickets - £300 (Scott Kennedy)

Signed Rangers Shirt - £200 (Ashleigh Colquhoun)

Bolton Wanderers Day for 4 - £175 (Jonny Jenkins)

Signed Edinburgh Rugby Shirt and Heineken Cup Ball - £150 (Simon Watson)
   

Special guest appearance from Justin Bieber. Great to have you there Justin!

I cannot thank everyone enough for everything that went into, and will come out of, the dinner on Friday. Carolyn from Make-A-Wish worked tirelessly with me in planning the dinner and yet took very little of the credit. Without her, and the Foundation, the night would have been not nearly the success it ended up being. Big thanks to Carol and Philip, also from Make-A-Wish, for attending and representing the Foundation.
  

Carolyn & Philip from Make-A-Wish with Philip's girlfriend, Sarah.

The Clarke family, that have been through the Make-A-Wish process with their daughter Hannah, were the guests of honour and were wonderful. All five family members turned up looking great, kitted out with decorate masks for the Masquerade theme. Hannah brought the photo-book from her visit to Disneyland Paris last December and all that looked through it could tell just how great a trip the family had enjoyed, thanks to Make-A-Wish. It was an honour and a privilege to have them all there, and I know it made a big difference to the night.
  

Clarke Family

The staff at the MacDonald Holyrood Hotel were first class and put up with my rookie dinner-planning skills. At one point I was asked if I wanted to do a final check of the tables as the guests were arriving. Despite telling them I was confident it was correct, we did a check. I had forgotten 4 people. The staff went to work creating extra spaces and by the time the doors to the hall opened, you would never have guessed there was any late-minute changes. Throughout the night, the staff were friendly, efficient and made everyone feel very welcome.
 

Lucia, Fiona, Louise and Jenny

I had a conversation with a family member on Thursday and was asked what I hoped to raise from the night. Apart from raising awareness of the amazing work that Make-A-Wish do, I was hoping to raise between £3,000 and £4,000 in total on the night. With some last minute stressing and perhaps an air of pessimism, I reduced that expectation in my own mind to £2,000 to £3,000. In the end, the evening raised over £5,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and could not have been more of a success.
  

Pete Whitelaw is one lucky man!

Thanks again to everyone that attended, everyone that donated prizes, everyone that bid in the auction, everyone that helped put the night together and everyone that organised tables. The night alone raised enough money to fund a Wish for a local Scottish child, which is an incredible achievement. So thanks.
  

Laura Houston, Steph Tulloch & Jonny Jenkins and Neil and Carrie McCreath

Now... time to start training for the challenge.

 

38 days...

Third Of The Way To £10,000

After a busy few weeks of work, training and dinner planning, I have surpassed a third of my £10,000 target. 
 

Currently received a total of 93 donations, which is a staggering amount with 7 weeks still to go. People from all across the country and the world have donated very kindly and gradually my, once ambitious, target of £10,000 may well be attainable.
 

Dinner plans are under way, masks have been purchased, prizes have been ready and table plans are made. 130 people will head to the MacDonald Holyrood Hotel on Friday to support Make-A-Wish and enjoy an evening with speeches, prizes and great food & drink.
 

Big thanks to all of those attending on Friday, and to all who have supported or donated thus far. Seems that people are really behind the challenge and the Foundation and it is great to see. 

49 days...