Race the Sun is coming! No, we’re not talking about the 1996 American comedy-drama directed by Charles T. Kanganis starring Halle Berry and James Belushi… we are going BIGGER AND BETTER. We are talking about the Charity Event organised by Action Medical Research for Children.
We have made no secret about our upcoming and much anticipated Charity event in which four of our *adventurous/competitive/brave/slightly-stupid (*delete as appropriate/insert your own relevant adjective if you prefer) colleagues, Charlene, Karl, Samantha and Tom AKA “Team Paramount” take on Action Medical Research for Children’s triathlon-style Race the Sun.
When?
Team Paramount will be taking on Race the Sun on 13 July 2024.
Where?
The event will take place in Coniston. For those who don’t know, Coniston is a charming village in Cumbria, that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and outdoor adventure. It also offers HILLS, HILLS and MORE HILLS.
Oh, and being the ever so lush green Lake District, you can guarantee a 99.9% chance of rain on the day.
What?
Now here is the fun part…what have these four let themselves in for?
Race the Sun pits teams of two or four against the clock in an incredible triathlon-style team challenge that will see us bike, hike and paddle around a course between dawn and dusk, in a race against the setting sun.
23 miles of “exciting” off-road biking taking in the Lake District's diverse landscape and terrain! The gravel and mountain route starts in Coniston and heads into the stunning Tilberthwaite Valley to Stang End. After a feed station on the shores of Windermere, the route follows the flat cycle path along the west side of England’s largest lake before we take on the dreaded Hawkshead Hill, a big climb but well worth the effort for the fantastic off-road descent through the woods back to Coniston.
Next up is the steep, thigh-bursting trek to the summit of the Old Man of Coniston, a classic Lake District mountain looming over the surrounding countryside. At 803m it might not be the highest peak in the National Park, but we will be ascending this height in under 2.5 miles of walking. That will be some test of our endurance.
The final section puts teamwork to the test on as we take to the water on one of the Lake District’s beautiful, but cold(!) lakes. Using canoes or kayaks, we will navigate around a 2-mile course on the water.
Why?
So why did Team Paramount decide to take on the Race the Sun challenge I hear you ask?
Action Medical Research has been funding medical breakthroughs for over 70 years. They have helped to beat polio, fight meningitis, prevent stillbirths and develop ultrasound scanning in pregnancy, helping to save thousands of children’s lives and change many more. It is such a worthy cause.
Surprisingly, medical research tackling childhood diseases is poorly funded in the UK. Action Medical Research has a critical job to do in helping fill this gap to protect children. The prospects for finding new cures and treatments are almost within their grasp.
Their website is full of family stories from two-year-old Emmy who has Vici syndrome, a very rare and life-limiting genetic disorder to siblings Oscar and Isla who avoided peanuts from a young age due to experiencing allergic reactions.
Team Paramount are full of passion to change lives for people.
And also, because it is Paddington Bear’s favourite Charity!
If you would like to help encourage Charlene, Karl, Samantha and Tom in their effort to WIN Race the Sun Coniston 2024, you can sponsor them on them here. Paddington would certainly approve.
