Guernsey Press

Fundraisers have to muscle up for marathon car pull

THE latest challenge to be undertaken by This is Epic has seen its two of its founders taking to the gym so they will be able to pull a one-tonne car over a marathon distance.

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Always ones to set themselves a challenge with a difference, This Is Epic fundraisers Philip Smith, left, and Warren Mauger are planning to pull a care for the marathon distance of 26.2 miles along Vazon Coast Road. (Pictures by Peter Frankland, 30031654)

Warren Mauger and Philip Smith plan to pull a Fiat 500 for 26.2 miles along Vazon Coast Road later this month to raise funds for the charity, which is involved in village savings and loans projects in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The event is being held in partnership with Le Mont Saint Garage, which has put up a car for the charity to raffle – the one litre hybrid sport that the duo will be pulling along the road, which is worth £14,500.

Joint MD at the garage Michael Beausire said that when the charity approached the company with the idea about raffling a car it was keen to help. ‘They’re a great charity to work with,’ he said.

The raffle was launched in July but then the charity came up with an idea to promote it.

‘It’s been a difficult couple of years raising money, but Warren and I met for coffee and he came up with this really stupid idea of a car pull,’ said Mr Smith. ‘I agreed straight away.’

This will be the latest in a series of stiff challenges that This is Epic has undertaken, which has included running seven marathons in seven days, running on a treadmill for 48 hours and doing seven Ironman triathlons in as many days.

Philip Smith, left, and Warren Mauger are pictured with Pete, left, and Mike Beausire of Le Mont Saint Garage, who have donated the hybrid Fiat 500 as the prize in a raffle. (30031664)

They have been helped by trainers at Upgrade Fitness, where they have spent the last couple of months focusing on building up their strength.

‘It’s been a completely different kind of training,’ said Mr Mauger. ‘We’ve had to put on about 14 kilogrammes of muscle in the last four months.’

The training involved pulling a weighted sled five times a week as well as four gym sessions.

They estimate it will take between eight and nine hours to complete the course, which will be 13 trips from the loophole tower at Vazon to Richmond and back.

Anyone who buys four of the raffle tickets, which are £25 each, will get a fifth ticket free and be given the opportunity to be a passenger in the car for one of the legs.

Mr Mauger said that several drivers had been lined up to steer the car during the challenge.

. The pull takes place on Saturday 16 October, starting at 6am.