Regional Activator for the East region, Carla Raven, was part of the muscle warrior team that raised thousands to help children suffering with muscular dystrophy. Muscular Help Foundation charity co-founder and Polar adventurer Michael McGrath turned the daunting GRIM 08 assault-course fund-raiser into the GRIM 48 as he broke the record for the largest ever team entry on Saturday 6th December 2008.
Hertfordshire-based Michael recruited almost 50 volunteer “Muscle Warriors” to take part in the event to raise money for the Foundation’s Muscle Dreams programme. The IFI’s Regional Activator for the East was one of them.
Muscle Dreams provides unforgettable experiences to children and young people in the UK afflicted by muscular dystrophy – helping them live a dream or fulfil a cherished ambition such as meeting the presenters of BBC’s Top Gear programme or a TV celebrity chef or enjoying top VIP hospitality while watching their favourite sport.
The GRIM 08 is an eight-mile assault course through mud, slime and water on land used by the Army to test out vehicles near Aldershot.
The course was used by the James Bond film makers to shoot a hovercraft chase in the movie Die Another Day – but those taking part in this “fun-run” won’t have the luxury of any powered transport.
“Absolutely not,” said Michael, who is a tireless fundraiser for the Muscular Help Foundation charity despite himself being confined to a wheelchair by muscular dystrophy. “Those who haven’t run this before are in for a real shock – it isn’t known as the GRIM 08 without good reason – our 48 Muscle Warriors are doing it for an extremely worthy cause.
“Muscular dystrophy is such a debilitating disease – it robs sufferers of their mobility, their independence and finally for those with the most severe form, predominantly children, their lives – all of the children they are raising money for will never be able to tackle such a challenge even when they become adults – it would be impossible and yet the money raised by our team will help some of them realise fantastic experiences they will never forget.
“I’m sure one or two of our team – my daughter and her friends included – will be cursing me when they are up to their waists in freezing mud and water out there but they can at least take comfort in knowing their suffering for a couple of hours can help ease the suffering of some of these children, possibly giving them a life-changing experience and a memory that will always be remembered.”
Carla Raven, IFI Regional Activator, East, stated:
“The course was extremely testing. We endured freezing water and knee deep mud as well as low camouflage netting. The event was very fun and every minute was worth it to know that you are indeed using a muscle to save a muscle. I definitely want to have another go next year.”
Michael, a well-known inspiring motivational speaker, is no stranger to enterprising fund-raising and is an inspiration to thousands of others around the world with this most cruel and unforgiving disease.
In 2002, despite his own debilitating condition, Michael led an expedition to the North Pole – a feat he repeated two years later when he got the South Pole and in so doing, he became the only disabled person to have reached both Poles.
Michael’s feats earned him a mention in the Queen’s 2004 Christmas Day broadcast from Buckingham Palace in recognition of his contribution to national life. This has subsequently brought further recognition for the charity he established for fellow sufferers even less fortunate than himself.
Although Michael has already smashed the record for the largest team ever to compete in the seven year history of the GRIM 08, he is already signing up Muscle Warriors for next years GRIM event.
“I know times are ‘GRIM’ economically for many people at the moment. I believe that the current turbulence will settle and people’s confidence will return. Having muscular dystrophy is permanently ‘GRIM’ because there is no treatment to delay or reverse the progression – there is still no cure for this wretched disease but through our Muscle Dreams programme that gives a little hope, courage and inner strength, we work hard to give children whose muscles are broken and wasting away something to look forward to and for their families something to always remember and cherish.”
To sign up for the 2009 GRIM Challenge as a Muscle Warrior raising funds for The Muscular Help Foundation and Muscle Dreams, contact the charity through its website at:
Click the link below to read about the Muscle Warriors success in last years GRIM 08 Challenge
