Spartan Beast

Just under 2 years ago David Bloomfield was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. Dave was immediately admitted to Addenbrookes hospital to undergo major brain surgery. The operation successfully removed the bulk of the tumour, but due to the size of the tumour and the severity of the operation, Dave is now deprived of many of the faculties we take for granted and was told that he may never walk again. Amongst numerous other things, Dave is unable to talk coherently or see without pain; Dave is now heavily dependent on his family and friends.

A matter of weeks after having the operation, Dave's second daughter was born, anyone who has children knows this is a joyful time but also a physically and mentally challenging time. It was during this time that Dave was enduring a strict and intense course of chemotherapy and the violent side effects that come with it.

Over the past 20 months or so, with an amazing degree of courage and the support of his family and friends he has slowly taught himself how to do the fundamental things that he was stripped of and has defied the Doctors and can walk unaided albeit slowly. However, this is just the beginning.

There is still a long road ahead for Dave and his family but there are treatments available to aid in his recovery. Dave has been told that he may never be able to work again, so the funding of such treatments is yet another obstacle in what has been a very testing time.

Dave's life had and has many similarities to my own and this is why his circumstances have struck such a cord with me. We are both guys in our 30's, married with 2 young children, both played football, go to the same gym, worked in the same industry and live on the same housing development, so it just goes to show it is the luck of the draw!

In January this year I decided to enter the Spartan Beast Run which is on the 27th September, I decided straight away I would look to use it as a way of raising funds for Dave's cause. I have never taken part in one of these types of events before, so have been putting the training in, which is tough to juggle with family life, work and football management. The Beast is the biggest Race in the Spartan events and is a 20k obstacle endurance race and is taking place at Battle, near Hastings. Having never done one before, I have no set time and the target is to complete it in a respectable time in the manor that Dave would have done!

http://spartanraceuk.uk/race-details/?event_id=493...

Please support me with whatever you can, every little helps!