After a very successful fund raising campaign last year which raised R324,000, I have once again decided to raise funds for SCORE and their Cup of Heroes project. The funds raised last year are being put to use to build a multi-purpose sports court for the Hhoyi community in Mpumulanga. With less than 40 days to IRONMAN we are cutting things quite fine. Unfortunately I’ve had some health issues, which have resulted in me leaving my decision to compete in the 2011 IRONMAN to the very last minute. However, now that my training is pretty much back on track, I’m going to give it my best shot and with the great SCORE team behind me I’m confident that we will be able to raise the needed funds in the time available.
There have been some pretty dramatic changes in my life since I competed last year. I left the corporate world at the end of 2010 after a wonderful 15 years with one of the greatest sports brands in the world, adidas, and I have ventured out on my own and started a consulting business. With this comes a huge amount of uncertainty but at the same time a great sense of freedom to tackle new and exciting challenges. Whilst IRONMAN may not be a new challenge, it still presents me the opportunity of putting back into sport what I have been privileged enough to gain from it, by making IRONMAN the vehicle to raise funds for SCORE.
For those who read my blogs last year you will know how much it meant to me to compete and raise funds at the same time. This year will be no different. To be honest there is a “selfish” side to this as I know how motivated I was last year and when I went through the really tough patches in the race, I took huge strength from the fact that I was making a difference in someone’s life – someone less privileged than myself. This enabled me to push myself even harder than I would normally have done. Maybe this year it will allow me to achieve what I missed out on last year – a sub 11 hour performance – that’s where the “selfish” part comes in.
The target for this year is to raise R80,000 which will allow members of the SCORE community to partake in life skills training so that they will be better equipped to fulfill the SCORE vision of Changing Lives Through Sport. SCORE use sport to provide children and youth with valuable skills and opportunities that they need to succeed in their life and contribute to their communities. Bringing about sustainable community development, individual empowerment and social transformation.
You can follow our progress on my daily blog on www.ironbrian.org and get some insight into what it takes to become an Ironman.
Without your generous support, these sorts of initiatives would not be possible. I thank you in anticipation of your support in making this dream become a reality. Please see below the details of how you can donate and make a difference to the life of someone less privileged.