Three determined fundraisers have raised more than £11,000 for Mountbatten Isle of Wight after completing an epic 100-mile triathlon inspired by the care one of their fathers received.
Sam Tyson and brothers Kemp and Aiden Price took on The Wight 100 Miles challenge on Saturday (11th July), swimming, cycling and running a combined 100 miles around the Isle of Wight.
Aiden, who lives abroad, flew back to the UK specially to take part in the challenge.
When the trio visited Mountbatten Isle of Wight earlier this month to present a cheque, they revealed they had raised an impressive £11,437.75, including Gift Aid.
Their challenge began with a 2-mile sea swim from Sandown Pier to Shanklin Pier, before a gruelling 70-mile cycle around the Island’s coastline. They then completed a 28-mile run, following the Walk the Wight route with an extra mile added to take the total distance to 100 miles.
Reflecting on the challenge, Kemp Price said:
“Dad recently had Mountbatten support him at home. Once that care touches your family, you realise just how important it is.”
The trio admitted the run proved to be the toughest part of the day.
“The heat was a lot harder on the run than we thought. It was nasty and difficult to find shade. The swim went well, but it was a lot choppier than we thought. The bike was good. We had some friends jump in, which helped massively.”
They also thanked friends Fergie and Loz for cycling alongside them during the ride.
Looking back on the finish, the three joked:
“Finishing was the best part.
“We had peaks and troughs. Then we got a second wind – or probably a fifth wind, at that point! The amount we’ve raised was a massive motivator. The last stretch was the longest 500 metres in the world, though.”
Explaining why they chose such a demanding challenge, Sam Tyson said:
“People don’t have money to spare right now, so we knew it had to be something significant.
“Lots of people have cycled around the Island or completed Walk the Wight on their own, and they know how hard those are individually.”
The challenge was supported by a number of businesses, including Beach Buoys Watersports, The Recovery Room Isle of Wight, Hill Farm Stables, Modh Design, Macros, Plentifull, SJT Construction and The Tri Guys.
