Riverside Tennis Club’s, Neil Frankel has completed a 55km challenge through the mountains of Snowdonia in aid of CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) and for Gary Cox, Riverside’s elite wheelchair tennis player.
The Ultra Trail Snowdonia encompasses elite competition alongside recreational runners, although the undertaking is markedly different to the London Marathon, with just 500 metres of tarmac alongside the 55km route through the rocky mountains of North Wales.
“I accidentally ran two back-to-back ultra marathons in 2021 and can still feel the effects of in my legs every day”, said Frankel before taking on the tough terrain.
“The race in the mountains of Snowdonia will undoubtedly be the hardest physical challenge I’ve ever undertaken.
“Supporting CALM (a suicide prevention charity) and helping to fulfil the aspirations of an elite wheelchair athlete is an absolute privilege and will hopefully spur me on to dig deep when it gets tough.”
12 hours and 29 minutes after setting off, Frankel made it over the finish line; an amazing feat in what he describes as, “a project to see what’s possible.”
A call every 61 seconds
Neil’s chosen charity, where 50% of the donations will head, is CALM or the Campaign Against Living Miserably.
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, where the topic of ‘movement’ is quite apt for a task such as this.
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide, the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK, and a call is made to the charity every 61 seconds in the UK.
The other 50% of donations will go to Gary Cox, one of Riverside Tennis Club’s success stories as the elite wheelchair tennis player works his way up the world rankings, with the aim of making it into the World’s top 20.
Such is the lack of funding in the world of wheelchair tennis, Gary has to fund his own costs to tournaments across the UK and Europe, with success coming in the UK National Championships in December.
Cox also made his debut for Great Britain at the World Team Cup European Qualifiers in Antalya, Turkey last year.
Neil has already reached his target of £2,000 for this epic challenge, but the fundraising link remains open until 21st May for anyone wishing to contribute to two unique causes.
On the subject of movement, there are also ‘Movement Club’ events taking place, where there is an optional ‘5-minute movement snack’ every hour to help you move more and make connections.
Those coffee afternoons take place every Wednesday and Friday from 13:30 – 17:00 at You For Coffee on Howard Street.
You can donate and say congratulations to Neil via his JustGiving page here.
