Born Heroes team conquers Born Survivor

The Visitor and Lancaster Guardian’s Born Heroes team conquered the mighty Born Survivor 10k military obstacle course on Saturday – and raised more than £40,000 toward the #saveourhospice campaign in the process.

The group of more than 300 people, led by the team at Fitness Formation gym in Lancaster, tackled the mud-filled course at Cumbria’s Lowther Castle overcoming many personal milestones and raising the money for St John’s Hospice in Lancaster.

For many this was a very personal mission, running in the name of those loved, lost and helped by the hospice in their time of need, making the event not just a feat of physical endurance but an emotional journey.

The team also broke obstacle racing history, becoming the biggest team to ever take on a challenge of this type in the UK.

TheBorn Heroes, including The Visitor editor Nicola Adam and reporter Gemma Sherlock, enjoyed a mainly sunny day – even more remarkable as the event was almost cancelled in the previous week due to horrendous weather.

Two members of the team sustained ankle injuries during the challenging event, which includes obstacles such as huge walls to climb, rivers to cross and muddy, watery, tunnels.

Nicola Adam, The Visitor editor, said: “It was a fabulous day and what shone above all else was the amazing team spirit within the Born Heroes. A day to remember for the rest of our lives. I’d like to say a huge thank you to Ryan Donohue, Daniel Donohue and Daniel Flynn from Fitness Formation, Kevin Bedford from Born Survivor and, of course, the team at St John’s for their fabulous efforts in making this happen. But most of all every individual who overcame their fears. You are amazing.”

Carina Travis from Heysham hurt her ankle. She said: “Although I was unable to finish due to injury, that group hug when the team left me with Ryan D and Dan F to await help summed up what the FF spirit is all about.”

Danielle Hillman fromLancaster said: “Born Survivor was one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. Seeing a team of 300 run up that hill together in a sea of blue tee-shirts all doing something amazing is an image that will stay with me forever!”