A team of 30 people from the Isle of Wight will take on a gruelling 15km Tough Mudder challenge this September to raise funds for Mountbatten while continuing their campaign for Zoe’s Law, launched following the death of Zoe Panayi from melanoma in 2020.
The Tough Mudder forms the centrepiece of a year-long programme of fundraising challenges organised by Charlie Panayi, Zoe’s brother, with all money raised going directly to Mountbatten Isle of Wight.
Organisers say every participant is covering their own entry fees and expenses, meaning 100% of sponsorship raised will be donated to the Island charity.
The campaign also aims to raise awareness of Zoe’s Law, which is calling for the mandatory testing of all removed moles and skin tags.
Zoe died from melanoma in 2020 after a mole was allegedly assessed by doctors as not being harmful. 5 years on, her family say it is “crazy” that mandatory testing has still not been introduced.
Explaining the motivation behind the challenge, organisers said the Tough Mudder had been chosen because it demands “discipline, team execution, and resilience under pressure” rather than simply being an enjoyable event.
They added:
“Zoe’s Law exists because of loss, but it also exists to create real change.
“The campaign is a way of turning tragedy into an absolute mission that helps others”.
The September Tough Mudder is just one of several endurance challenges planned throughout 2026 and into 2027.
Earlier this year, the team completed the Puig Campana summit in Spain, Walk the Wight and the ascent of Bobotov Kuk, Montenegro’s highest mountain.
Next on the schedule is the Welsh 3000 challenge in July in support of the Wildheart Trust, followed by a 100km trek through the Colombian jungle in August.
Following the Tough Mudder, participants will also take on a bungee jump and the Brighton i360 Sky Walk before attempting to summit Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas, on 10th January next year.
Mountbatten Isle of Wight provides free care and support for thousands of Islanders facing death, dying and bereavement. The charity says it costs more than £25,000 every day to provide its services, with only around one-third of its funding coming from the NHS.
Those wishing to support the fundraising effort or learn more about Zoe’s Law can do so via the GoFundMe link here.
