A team of athlete fundraisers called 100 Strong have just completed their 10th major challenge. The team, founded in 2019, travelled to Scotland in October to take part in a unique event that would test their physical and psychological strength.
The event took place during Baby Loss Awareness Week and was raising funds for Sands, the UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity.
100 Strong was created by Bradley Stoke’s Matt Roberts to deal with his own past traumas and to give resources to people in need while testing his physical limits. Matt was joined on the challenge by marathon runner Laith Hofayz from Abergavenny, and RAF officer Jack Roberts from Portishead.
Athletes Laith and Matt have both experienced baby loss and many of their extended team and supporters have, too.
Chloe Brunton-Dunn, Corporate Partnerships Officer, Sands, said: “We’re so grateful to Matt, Laith, Jack and the 100 Strong team for taking on this immense challenge for Sands. Their incredible efforts in helping to raise awareness and vital funds will make an enormous difference to our life-saving work, and will help us to amplify our impact and reach more people with the support that they need after pregnancy loss or the death of a baby.”
Half of UK adults have said that they, or someone they know, had experienced at least one form of pregnancy or baby loss. So it’s vital that everyone knows that they are not alone and that there is a community that understands and is here for them, whatever they need – be it guidance, shared stories or simply a listening ear to help and offer comfort.
The team began in the North Sea before heading ashore at Cullen Bay and making their way over five days to Arisaig Beach, before heading into the Atlantic. They were only allowed to cycle and walk or run on their quest and must summit the nine highest peaks in the UK in between.
After completing the five-day event in Scotland they then headed down to North Wales to complete the challenge, to coincide with the global ‘Wave of Light’ on the top of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), the highest peak in Wales.
So far, the team have raised almost £12,000 but are still working towards their £20,000 target. The donation link is: justgiving.com/page/100strongofficial