Why is Darren Edwards doing this challenge?
Posted by Darren
I often ask myself the above question several times during a training session, along with other pressing thoughts such as... "why is the fog so thick I've fallen off yet another damn rock?", "does mud up to your arms really hold any therapeutic properties?" and the classic "why is that cow/dog/bull/large deer looking at me funny?".
I think I've been an incredibly selfish individual in my life thus far, and now I think it's time to give something back! It sounds so exceptionally cliché, but I do think Karma goes around and comes around [maybe I've watched too many My Name is Earl episodes?].
We lead our lives at almost break neck speed, deep in daily grind we rarely stop to see the pain of others, unless of course it happens to us first. A child with cancer, a person in pain and soldier crippled. It means so very little to us, apart from a fleeting emotion, it's just the news after all.
I started 2008 with a simple thought "a man is measured on what he does" my long gone Grandfather said that to me in my teens when I really wanted to join the forces, it meant very little or nothing to me then.
Nearly twenty years later I understand what the old guy meant, you really do control your own destiny. This challenge is simple, bust our butts and help deliver a heap of cash for three extremely well deserving causes, with far more worth than what I have ever achieved.
I was diagnosed with beginnings of Ulstritive Colitis/Crohn's in 2004. Most if not everything around me changed instantly, I reacted terribly to the news and any one close to me I pushed away. The pain was awkward and embarrassing, it took nearly twenty four months to focus on my diet, control my fears, get support and help and finally put my life back on track.
There is nothing more humbling or more satisfying than serving others - I guess that is at the heart of my reasons for this challenge. It took something major in my life for me to open my eyes, I'd like to simply give some small measure back.
You never know, I might find out who I am after all.
I'm also the web/print designer and emarketing guy for the team.
