Malaria Survivor’s Ultra Triathlon Success!
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Fin and Alex (right) getting ready to cycle from John O’Groats to Lands End
On Saturday 8 September, malaria survivor Alex Carter finished the final leg of his 700 mile fundraising challenge for Malaria No More UK!
Since mid-August Alex had been undertaking a mind-blowing ultra triathlon. Inspired by his own experience of the disease whilst volunteering in Ghana, Alex titled the feat “Victory Over Malaria” and set himself the challenge of:
- Swimming the equivalent of the English Channel
- Cycling over 900 miles from John O’Groats to Land End
- Running from Lands End to finish at Loughborough University
With such an ambitious goal ahead, Alex has spent the past 12 months balancing his final year of studies at Loughborough University with a training programme to build up his strength and stamina; planning the logistics involved in the various stages; and organising a series of events, talks and activities to help raise as much as possible for our work.
Even the best laid plans can go awry however… after a successful first stage, which saw Alex complete 1,360 lengths of Loughborough University’s Olympic sized pool in just 12 hours, he travelled up to Scotland the cycling stage of the challenge with friend, Fin Beecher.
Despite a great start, which saw Alex and Fin averaging 90 miles a day, Alex was forced to call his own challenge to a temporary halt after 600 miles, when midge bites became dangerously infected. For the second time in his life Alex spent time in hospital as a result of insect bites.
Friends and family celebrate with Alex at the finish line
Thankfully on this occasion he made a speedy recovery, and was able to complete an impressive, albeit scaled down version of his Challenge on 7 and 8 September – undertaking a 30 mile ultra marathon and 14.5 half marathon to the finish line at Loughborough, to be greeted by family and friends – back where it had all begun just one month before!
We’re delighted that Alex has raised a tremendous £4,200 to help prevent others – like the community he lived with in Ghana – from contracting this preventable and treatable disease. His fundraising success has been achieved in no small part thanks to the help he received from supporters, such as The Orange Tree Pub whose staff organised events, and Loughborough RAG who helped with bucket collections.
“With his dedication and persistence, particularly during the final weeks of his challenge, Alex has demonstrated just the kind of fighting spirit that is needed to beat malaria and end the suffering and death that this disease causes – something that Alex himself has witnessed and experienced firsthand. Everyone at Malaria No More UK is hugely grateful to Alex and his supporters for being part of such an incredible effort.” Helen Mabberley, Fundraising Manager
Alex is still raising funds at justgiving.com/victoryovermalaria – if you would like to help celebrate his tremendous achievement you can sponsor him online!
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