Challenger Profile
Name:
James & Chris Rimmer
Challenge Date:
30th July 2023
My Challenge:
"Why do a marathon when you can do an Ironman?" The statement that has perhaps hung over us both after I announced to Chris that I was taking part in my first marathon in 2017. A ridiculous thing to say, yes, BUT we have both always viewed the Ironman as the ultimate physical and sporting challenge.
Compassion has always been close to our hearts, as growing up our family sponsored two children from around the world. We have always seen the need to support others in environments where through just being born there has placed them at more of a developmental and educational discrepancy than us.
We now are both able to support two more children through Compassion and it has brought us immense joy!
We are using this opportunity to raise money too. The project we are supporting aims to construct a resource centre in Togo to support 500 students with their studies. This includes equipping the centre with a wide variety of books and 30 computers with internet access, as well as providing cross-curricular skills training such as career development courses.
Togo is considered one of the poorest countries in the world, with 69% of the population living below the poverty line, earning less than £1.50 a day according to The Borgen Project. High levels of unemployment in Togo put children at risk of exploitation from corrupt labour forces. This is why we are passionate about supporting this project and making a difference in the lives of these students.
Although we might have to wake up a bit earlier each day this year and put our bodies through some very painful days, we're so glad that we are able to use this platform to raise some money towards an incredible Compassion project in Togo, but more importantly raise awareness and, hopefully, educate others.
Please give what you can and let's do something really cool together!
Donations
Target:£4,000.00
Children
Sponsored Target:1
Online Total: £500.00
Offline Total: £0.00
Gift Aid: £37.50
Chris, 27
"With my rowing career now behind me I am looking for something to fill the void. Of course the answer is an Ironman Triathlon. I'm currently really enjoying learning the new skill of swimming and trying to increase my training load across all three disciplines. I'm not really sure what to expect but I'm excited for what is going to go on in my mind towards the end of the massive effort on the 30th of July! I know that James is very strong at running so I'm hoping to get a lead on the swim and roast him on the bike and hope that my lead is big enough for the marathon!"
James, 29
"I love sport and have given everything a go my whole life, even making it a huge part of my career as a PE teacher for 7 years. I have always loved testing my body to its limit and having completed a few marathons and half IMs, I now feel ready to give the full distance a good go with my brother by my side. Unlike him I am not competitive in any way about this, well...we'll see!"
Compassion is a charity that puts children, who are often overlooked, at the heart of its mission. We both feel passionate about creating more opportunity for young people and giving them what they need in life to have the best chance possible to succeed.
The incredible project proposed in Togo of building a resource centre to equip and inspire many children and young people is something that when we heard about we wanted to get right behind.
This is our real focus. To just do something. Please support if you can!