WOUNDED VETERAN UNDERTAKES WORLD’S “HIGHEST” DUATHLON

On Friday 4 December, wounded veteran Darren Hardy, 35,  will attempt a world first – to complete an entire duathlon (10km run, 150k cycle, 30k run) all at a simulated height of 12,000ft, which is the equivalent of 3 times the hight of Ben Nevis, the UK’s tallest mountain.

He will achieve this by doing the challenge at the Altitude Centre London where he will wear a mask that will restrict his oxygen to 60% of what we usually breathe (12.5% oxygen versus 21% oxygen in ‘normal’ air) to replicate the thin air conditions that mountaineers experience at altitude.

At an equivalent height of over 3,600m, this is when people need oxygen to sky dive, and it’s 3,000ft higher than when altitude sickness can kick in, causing dizziness, tiredness, sickness and loss of appetite.  The event is expected to take him approximately 12 hours.

Darren served 15 years in the British Army. As an athlete he became a Physical Training Instructor which led to his selection for officer training at Sandhurst. He subsequently took his troops all over the world, often in life-threatening and extremely testing environments. Three years ago his career was brought to an end as a result of physical and mental injuries suffered during the Iraq war. He has subsequently been diagnosed with PTSD and has a permanent shoulder injury that impacts his physically on a day to day basis.

For his recovery, Darren has had to focus on becoming mentally resilient to match his physical strength and work on coping strategies for his PTSD. Sport and training have become key for both his physical and mental wellbeing and he has represented the UK at the Warrior Games where he was a Gold Medallist and record breaker in the 100m and 200m sprint.

However, rather than taking part in other events, Darren is now creating his own extreme endurance challenges to push himself physically and mentally, writing is own blueprint to what the body and mind can do. These are his way of managing his PTSD, giving himself something to focus on to the exclusion of detrimental thoughts.

This event is taking place just over a month since his major challenge when he completed 6.5 Ironman distance triathlons (3.9k swim, 180k cycle and 42.4k run) in 10 consecutive days at different locations around the UK – with the last triathlon taking place in a London Eye pod, making it the longest endurance event ever in the London Eye.

Darren says, “I still have aches and pains from my last event, but I’m itching to get going on another ‘World First’. The pandemic has made me get creative with how I can push my body and mind, so if I can’t travel to any mountains they can come to me! An extreme altitude challenge is a way to really stretch my endurance and see what is possible. And if I can inspire just one other wounded veteran who is struggling, to put on their running shoes or jump on a bike and see how much better that can make them feel, I will be happy.”

Beth Miles, Fundraising, Marketing and Communications Director for Help for Heroes, comments, “With most of our planned fundraising events being cancelled or postponed since April as a result of the coronavirus, we are experiencing a 30% drop in our regular income which is really tough. At the same time, we have seen a 33% increase in new people coming forward for support with their mental health, so the need is growing. That’s why we cannot thank Darren enough for his incredible dedication to the cause – doing not one, but three, eye-watering challenges to raise funds for us. He is a total legend!”

In August, Darren was also the first person to paddleboard 112k, cycle 779k and run 42k, travelling 933k in total from Inverness to Help for Heroes’ Tin Hut, the building where the charity set up 13 years ago to raise funds for veterans that have been physically or mentally wounded as a result of their military service – and also to support their families.

To donate, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/darren-hardy7.

Media contact: Susan Perolls | Fundraising PR Manager | Help for Heroes

M 07483 044102 | susan.perolls@helpforheroes.org.uk

About Help for Heroes

Help for Heroes supports those with injuries and illnesses sustained during or attributable to their service in the British Armed Forces, and their families. No matter when someone served, Help for Heroes believes that those prepared to put their lives second, deserve a second chance at life. Every course and activity the charity offers aims to empower them to look beyond illness and injury, regain their purpose, reach their potential and have a positive impact on society. Only 3% of Help for Heroes income comes from the government, so the charity relies on the UK public to help raise the money needed to support wounded and injured veterans. For more information, visit www.helpforheroes.org.uk.