There are some days that you can never forget. They are normally for happy reasons, for example, getting married, the birth of your children, Leeds winning the title. There are also days that stay with you for less happy reasons. Tomorrow (19 January) is one of those days for me. It’s a day that I’ll never forget along with some others around it and one that is marked with sadness. This year, it marks the 10^th anniversary of Dan’s passing.

Following Dan’s untimely death, I marked the first anniversary by starting a year of challenges which included cycling from Leeds to Hull, obstacle course races (Tough Mudder/Total Warrior/Endurer Dash/X-Runner Wild Thing and Water Wipeout/Survival of the Fittest), completing the Yorkshire Tour Sportive, walking the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, swimming 5km, rowing the distance of the English Channel and cycling 100 miles. 12 events in 12 months were certainly a challenge but from those challenges, the Dan Rhodes Foundation was born.

It seemed a fitting tribute to someone who had such a big impact on my life and the lives of those who knew him. I made a promise to Dan that I would do what I could to try and stop others from feeling like they had no other option and to try and raise awareness around mental ill health.

In the 8 years that have passed since then, the amount of events completed have decreased in number, due to a combination of injury, illness, and global pandemics. Over that time, the Foundation has struggled despite some generous souls doing fundraising events for us. We have struggled to increase our reach due to constant changes in the social media world and the continual increase in running costs have made for a difficult time. If I’m being completely honest, there have been times along the way when I could have given up and walked away but that promise has kept me going.

After lots of soul searching, I concluded that as the 10^th anniversary was coming up, I would have one big effort to try and turn things around and this was the ideal catalyst. As this is now upon us, tomorrow I’m going to start the first of 12 challenges that will take place to mark the sad loss.

For those who know me, it will come as no surprise that I’ve decided what to do at the last minute, am terribly out of shape, unfit and unprepared but I’ve never let that stop me in the past! Tomorrow is going to see the return to my favourite (?) torture device as I bring back Dry Ski January and am going to try to ski 550km in 30 days on the ski erg. If you’ve ever used a ski erg, you’ll know how hard it is, especially over longer distances so it won’t be any easy start. A couple of years ago I managed to do 500km in 30 days but was younger and fitter so it will definitely be a challenge to increase the distance. I’m hoping that this gives me the motivation to get going with the challenges and will give me a base to build on through as the year goes on. I’m determined to make 2024 a great year and this will just be the start!

If you have any suggestions on what other challenges, I could take on this year, let me know. There are some ideas already out there like the taking on the Yorkshire 3 peaks again and making it to the end and others that will be even more challenging, but any suggestions will be gratefully received. Also, if anyone want to do their own event or join in with any of the challenges, let me know.

Thanks for all your help and support and if you want to help, either have a look at our website www.doitfordan.org.uk, message me or have a look at the sponsor page at www.justgiving.com/page/dryski2024

Much love and wish me luck!

Stu