Charity

What charities and why?

I've always been a charitable person what can I say. I've seen the benefits that charities can bring to organisations and networks that provide support, treatment, facilities and equipment to organisations that need them to help people. I've lost several friends and family members already and experienced the effects of other conditions on a daily basis in both my personal and professional lives. I myself have Bristol Children's Hospital to thank for saving my life at the age of 2 when I suffered Septicemia as a result of an infected cyst under my right arm. Without their medical attention and the support they gave me and my family I wouldn't be here writing this website now! This is why from 2012 onwards, a lot of my own personal charitable giving will be aimed directly at their Cots for Tots appeal, however that won't stop me and my partners raising much needed funds for other UK charities too!

2012 Silverstone Half Marathon - a run with a difference!

So in 2009 I completed my first half marathon with a lot of help from my friends. My target was to complete the Bristol Half in under two hours, yet my personal best for a distance run prior to the event was 1hr 42 minutes, so I was aiming to hit an equal time. I didn't quite match the time, but completed the run in 1hr 52 minutes meaning I still met my targets. Job done.... or so I thought. I always believe in a challenge, so once I'd completed the Bristol Half, I said I'd never do another one.

Until now. The idea started back in 2009 when training for the Bristol Half, and I bounced the idea of running in a full motorsport racing suit and helmet for the duration of the run in order to raise more money for charity whilst gaining a little publicity to help boost sponsorship for my racing. After suffering injury during/after the 2009 race, I didn't really think much more of it. Then, during the summer of 2011 I was conscious that I'd managed to put on a little bit more weight round the middle than I'd like, so having dropped from a 30" to a 28" waist during the last training, knew it was a good start.

But I don't do anything without a challenge and good reason, so the next thing you know I've signed up to the 2012 Silverstone Half Marathon in March. But not only am I going to run the race, I intend fulfilling my idea from 2009 and complete the entire race in a full race suit and helmet! There is no way I'm going to complete it in the same time, but I am aiming for under 3hrs. Training is already under way, and I have to say I'm losing a bit of weight already! Happy days! You'll be able to find out more about the race, my training and the charity I'll be running for from this page of my site.

2010 RS Combe & CARBON:ERA present The Stig

In 2010 I launched a new vehicle vinyl wrapping company called CARBON:ERA. Originally launched at the Bristol Motorshow in Cabot Circus, the original launch was aimed at our range of retail products and the retail of vinyl film. However, we soon realised that our main target market was with performance and modified vehicles and their owners. At the time I had a new 2009 Ford Focus RS, so it made perfect sense to hold our second outdoor event at the infamous RS Combe show at Castle Combe racing circuit.

To help with our launch marketing, we enlisted the services of The Stig for a few hours who spent his time either posing for photographs, 'chatting' with our customers and pacing the paddock looking for potential females for photographs. On a serious note, The Stig was responsible for selling our raffle tickets to win a variety of carbon-fibre wrap related prizes - all donated by us for the event. We ended the day having raised £105 to Bristol Children's Hospital's Wallace & Gromit Grand Appeal and making a few people quite happy in the process! We look forward to working with the new Stig in the near future on a couple of other projects!

2009 Bristol Half Marathon

In 2009 I decided along with 3 friends (Andy Wright, Jack Whelan and Marcus Gray) to run in the Bristol Half Marathon. This was for several reasons. 1) I'd never been any good at long distance running, 2) I wanted to tone up a little bit reduce weight to help with my karting and having stopped playing 5-a-side football, needed a little something and 3) my wife at the time had not long been diagnosed as having M.E. so I decided to run in aid for Action for M.E. and also help raise awareness of the charity and the condition itself.

We started training in March/April of 2009 after kitting myself out with some new trainers courtesy of Up & Running in Westbury Park, Bristol. It took a few weeks to get past running for as little as 15 minutes on my own, but once I started training with the lads I soon realised my pace was far too fast. I quickly got the hang of it and after training twice a week on my own and then a long run with the lads once a week, we got the full half marathon distance in 1hr 42 minutes just over a week before the event.

My goal was always to complete the Bristol Half in less than 2 hours, but I really had no clue as to whether this would even be achievable in race conditions. 3/4 of the way through my feet were starting to suffer and by the end of the race I had Plantar Fasciitis and couldn't run for 8 weeks. I managed to get round the course only slowing to walk for 5 minutes at one point in a respectable 1hr 52 minutes, under my target and still achieving my goal.

I have to give a huge shout and big thank you to Andy, Jack and Marcus for all their help and encouragement. I also need to thank Nicola at Action for ME for helping me with the sponsorship and surrounding activities, and my ex-wife Sharron for giving me a reason to do it and the support to achieve it even though she wasn't in my life for the actual event.

RACE:FACE - Involving charities in Motorsport

Around the same time as training for the Bristol Half Marathon I realised the start of a long-time ambition to integrate charities with motorsport. Back in the early 2000's I created a concept to source additional funds from charities whilst paying for a full season of competition racing and funding a drive for underfunded, talented drivers. Soft launched in the early part of 2009, RACE:FACE was created as a charity karting event with all profits given directly to the charities involved. Our first rate was in September 2009 and consisted of 9 out of the possible 22 teams after several teams dropped out or failed to show for the final event.

The event however was a success and whilst not raising any funds for Action for M.E., it was a learning curve that needed to be completed. After funding the shortfall personally, RACE:FACE continues to exist and will be integrating with a new project set for launch during the early part of 2012. With lessons learnt, the next phase is guaranteed to be bigger and better and my hopes for creating the first fully funded, charity motorsport team will come ever closer.