Tony Machin, Group CEO of Wilmslow based European Financial Solutions, is part of a team of 10 local businessmen, who, over the last six months, have given up their social lives, undergone weeks of punishing physical training and endured a strict dietary regime to take part in a physical challenge that will push them to the limit.
Starting with the Great Manchester Run yesterday, they will be running 10 x 10k races in 10 countries over just five days, in Amsterdam, Brussels, Cologne, Luxembourg, Geneva, San Remo, Monaco and Nice, before finishing in Barcelona.
This mammoth 100k challenge is in aid of the NSPCC's Child's Voice Appeal, contributing a total of more than £100,000 towards the £2 million target.
Yesterday Tony Machin completed the Manchester leg of the challenge in 45 minutes and 22 seconds. The team were then due to fly to Amsterdam but the flight was cancelled due to the ash cloud, so they caught the train to London in the hope of getting the Eurostar, but it was fully booked.
They then decided to catch a ferry to Belgium, but the team couldn't travel as foot passengers on the ferry so they had to hire a minibus and driver. They finally did their second run in Ostend in Belgium, instead of Amsterdam, which Tony completed in 48 minutes 22 seconds.
The team of 10 local businessmen are now on the coach travelling to Amsterdam to complete their 3rd run, after which they will be heading to Cologne. It may only be day one but already they have faced a few challenges!
The "Hear Our Cry" Child's Voice Appeal has been launched to raise awareness of the NSPCC’s vital helpline services and allow the charity to support more children. Throughout 2008/2009, the ChildLine service counselled over one million calls from children. That’s the equivalent of over 13 capacity crowds at Old Trafford or 33,000 classrooms full of children!
Martin Ashton, NSPCC head of local fundraising in the North West said: “It is fantastic to see Manchester’s top entrepreneurs working together to raise such vital funds to support the NSPCC and we wish them the best of luck with the epic 100k challenge.
“Hear Our Cry will raise money for the NSPCC’s national Child’s Voice Appeal which will allow us to help many more children. The money raised will help to expand the NSPCC’s vital helpline services – ChildLine the UK’s free, confidential 24-hour helpline for children and the NSPCC Helpline for adults concerned about a child."
If you would like to support the campaign, visit the Hear Our Cry website or to donate online at justgiving.com.
