Year of challenges for '˜Man in a Morphsuit'

His year of fundraising follows his 2014 effort, which saw him complete ten challenges in ten months, raising £6,000.

Alex, of Stocks Lane, East Wittering, will be completing each challenge in a Morphsuit, a spandex costume which covers the entire body.

“Because cystic fibrosis (CF) does not care whether you are male or female, young or old, It makes you feel invisible to everyone else because you spend much of your life in hospital,” explained Alex.

“So, I hope wearing these suits will draw more attention and show people who are suffering with CF they are not alone.”

Man in Morphsuit 12 4 12 Challenges has been inspired by Alex’s sister, Melissa, who died in 2004. He wants to raise awareness of the condition and help raise much-needed funds to find a cure.

“My sister Melissa sadly lost her fight against CF at the age of 19,” explained Alex.

“She was my hero, my sister and my best friend. Through doing these challenges, I hope to inspire others and I know it would make my sister as proud of me as I was proud of her.

“Some of Melissa’s key characteristics included strength, determination and a phenomenal desire to push everything to the limit; never taking no for an answer, and never giving up or complaining.”

Alex is a retained firefighter at East Wittering Fire Station and along the way in his feel-good sequence of events, he will be helped by fellow firefighters and family members, including his cousin running the London Marathon.

First on the list was rowing for 24 hours with friends and colleagues, raising a total of £485.69.

Walking challenges during the year will include the South Downs Way, covering 100 miles in five days; the North Downs Way, covering 153 miles in eight days; and the Downs Link, covering 37 miles in 24 hours.

Cycling challenges include the Ring of Kerry in Ireland, covering 120 miles in a day; a six-day ride from East Wittering to Kilorglin in Ireland, covering 506 miles; and cycling from East Wittering Fire Station, in Oakfield Approach, to Woking Fire Station.

There are two triathlons on the list – one which will involve cycling 21 miles, kayaking eight miles and running three miles; and another cycling, kayaking and running a total of 70km in Ireland.

Completing the list of 12 challenges will be kayaking 12 miles from Selsey to Itchenor Harbour; walking 15 miles and cycling 29 miles along The Ridgeway, Britain’s oldest road; and a round trip to Chichester, cycling to Chichester Cross, walking Chichester City Walls and then cycling home.

Alex said: “Each of these challenges represents just one day in the life of someone suffering with CF.

“In 2014, I decided to do ten challenges in ten months in Melissa’s memory, to raise awareness of CF. Completing the ten challenges proved to be a great year for me and we raised £6,000.

“This year, I will complete 12 challenges, one a month. A lot more people are now aware of CF but there are many more funds needed and I feel I can tell more people about CF.”

Visit Alex Mould’s fundraising page to make a donation.

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