Taxi Driver Online

Melton taxi driver Mark to embark on charity fitness quest of a lifetime


Is this Melton’s bravest and most determined taxi driver?

Iron-willed cabbie Mark Faulkner, of Doctors Lane, Melton, is pushing himself to the limit to complete a gruelling triathlon followed by running a half marathon, just three weeks later.

Mark is set to take the start line of the The Outlaw Half Ironman in Nottingham on Sunday, May 29. His task will challenge him to swim 1.2 miles, cycle 56 miles and run 13 miles.

His other half marathon, the Road2Recovery run, organised by fundraiser Claire Lomas, takes place at Eye Kettleby Lakes on Sunday, June 19.

The thirty-year-old is part owner of Elaine’s Taxis and has been driving for seven years. This is the first time he has attempted anything like this having not swam for the best part of 20 years.

Mark is hoping to raise £1,500 in aid of The Team Rossi Foundation, a charity set up to put a smile on children’s faces who suffer from leukaemia.

He said: “The charity visit children in hospital taking them gifts and organise day trips out for families as the parents often have to give up work to help care for their children.

“They are currently trying to raise £5,000 so they can buy every child in the Nottingham area, being treated with a PICC line, a dry suit, so they can go swimming.

“I am doing this for a good friend of mine Ryan Dustan who’s son Oscar was diagnosed with leukaemia a couple of years ago.”

Mark has been training relentlessly since August. Some days he even gets up at 6am to go swimming before he starts work.

He added: “I run every Monday night with the Melton Running Club and work permitting, I aim to run,swim and cycle at least twice a week.

“As of May, my swim training will move outdoors in preparation for the open water swim in the triathlon.

“In the beginning when I first told me family this is what I wanted to do they thought I was abit nuts, but they’ve seen how determined I am, and have supported me from the start. I can’t wait for them to see me cross the finish line.

“I would like to say massive thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far and hopefully with the support and generosity of everyone I will smash my £1,500 target.”

l To donate visit https://www.gofundme.com/2y3f4kh6


Read more: http://www.meltontimes.co.uk/news/local ... z458NP03Jt

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Grandads son I think.

Yep, that's my boy.
Please feel free to go to his go fund me page and make a donation. It doesn't matter how much or how little it will all help. Ex England cricketer, Matthew Hoggard, is one of Mark's regular customers and he has promised to put the link up on his twitter page.
I know that one member of this forum has already pledged money through the go fund me pages so a big thank you from me for that donation.

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Grandad,

Mark will be interviewed for radio Leicester at 08.30 tomorrow morning. Not sure if it a recording or going live.

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Grandad,

Here is a link to the interview on radio Leicester.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03pgrcj
Mark is on at 2 hours 42 mins.

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Grandad,

2 weeks to go to the big day. Sponsorship in now at £865 thanks to a £40.00 donation from ex England cricketer Matthew Hoggard. If anyone else would like to sponsor Mark, his gofundme page is www.gofundme.com/2y3f4kh6 This is a massive feat of endurance for Mark covering a 1.2 mile open water swim, 56 mile bike ride and then a half marathon to finish off. The event is taking place at the National Water Sports center in Nottingham and there are around 600 competitors taking part. Mark expects to complete the half Ironman in around 7 hours.

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Grandad,

Mark rode his bike for 6 hours today in Sainsburys and covered 90 miles. The customers did him proud and donated £260 towards the target. Just another £375 needed to reach the target of £1,500. He may need the day off tomorrow after the school run.

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Grandad,

good on the chap

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Day off, what on earth is a day off?

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IDFIMH

Like i said, after the school run. He can't have the whole day off.

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Grandad,

I week to go and so far the amount raised is £1,275 once the latest £20 donation is added.
Please go to Mark's go fund me page and take a look.
https://www.gofundme.com/2y3f4kh6

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Grandad,

Just over 3 days to go and mark has done as much training as he can. He is now doing just gentle exercise in the build up to the big day. There are 1,500 people taking part in the event.
Sponsorship is nearly there now with just another £180 needed to meet the target. It would be a great morale booster if the target could be reached before the event.

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Grandad,

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Grandad,

If anyone is interested in checking on Mark's progress in the race tomorrow his number is 395.
https://resultsbase.net/event/3509/results

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Grandad,

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater
This is Mark coming up to the finish line this afternoon. His time was 6 hours 34 minutes and 58 seconds.
Congratulations from one very proud dad..
In the picture with mark are his daughter Mia on the left and the little lad on the right is Oscar. Oscar is the reason Mark has done this challenge. At 2 years old he was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of leukemia. It took 2 years and a bone marrow transplant to get Oscar on the road to recovery and as you can see, he is now in full remission and doing great. Behind Mark is his wife, Georgina and Oscar's sister Anna May.
Mark, you can have the rest of today and tomorrow off work but you had better be back on Tuesday.

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Grandad,