CHALLENGE 2015

JAMIE MCANSH | PUSHING LIFE’S LIMITS

12 CHALLENGES | 12 MONTHS

In January 2015 Jamie realised that his life was never going to be the same, He concluded that even if he woke up perfectly able-bodied he would never be the man who went to bed on the 6th January 2014.

After holding a small funeral for his able-bodied version of himself, Jamie decided he needed to find out whom he now was and what he was now capable of. 

Challenge 2015 was born. 

JANUARY

WCMX

Jamie took a chair built for Tesco’s cut the back end off, fitted suspension and took himself off to a skate park.

FEBRUARY

HAND-CYCLE MARATHON

Jamie every year takes part in a challenge for TSSAware in memory of a dear young lady taken way to young from Toxic Shock Syndrome. This time Jamie hand-cycled From Cwmbran to Chepstow. 26 miles in terrible wet and rainy conditions.

MARCH

CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING

Jamie has used a gun before both in the arm and on a shotgun range, but never in a chair.

APRIL

DOWN HILL ROUGH RIDING

Yep, you guessed it. In a wheelchair purpose built for the down hill circuit and hitting speeds of 40+MPH through the woods.

MAY

CARTEN100

Back in a hand-cycle, only this time 100 miles from Cardiff to Tenby. 13 hours of gruelling road cycling using only hand power.

JUNE

WAAT4

30k adventure over the Brecon Beacons. Jamie did this in a wheelchair, the first to achieve and currently the only person to attempt this challenge in a self-propelled wheelchair.

JULY

ROWING DOWN THE RIVER WYE

Somewhat easier challenge to his last few, but still very taxing with limited core control.

AUGUST

SURFING

Being in the sea is one thing, getting there is another. With some great support, Jamie was soon in the waves and loving the open water. He even hit a few waves along the way.

SEPTEMBER

ZIP LINE

Something ticked off Jamie’s Bucket list. The challenge was getting into the sling, but with some upper body strength and ingenuity, no challenge is too big

OCTOBER

MOTORCYCLING

After years of being a biker, this seemed a thing of the past. However, with an adapted bike, open track and a great team. Jamie was soon up and hitting the bends at great speeds.

NOVEMBER

GETTING ON A AEROPLANE

Now an easy challenge in a wheelchair, Jamie had been dreading it from the word go. However, with a bit of trust in those around him, it was soon achieved.

DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS MARKET

Definitely the most dangerous. Hit with several bags, poked with umbrellas, sat on and bumped into more time than could keep count. There was a little corner where Jamie sneaked a mulled wine, so not so bad.

THE MESSAGE

Every challenge came with its massive up’s and horrendous down’s. However Jamie learned valuable lessons about his abilities and vulnerabilities. Jamie also learned that at time we all fail. That is a fact of life. We all fall over from time to time. This is also a fact of life.