Category Archives: Sport

Not content with simply completing one “ironman” challenge, a Wembley resident and campaigner, Peter Corcoran, will be taking part in another of the World’s toughest sporting challenges to raise money for a local charity, St Luke’s, in October this year.

On 3rd October Peter will be undertaking the “Challenge Barcelona” competition, a distance triathlon event which will see Peter swimming 3,800 metres (152 lengths of Vale Farm), then cycling 180k (112 miles) followed by a run of a full 26 mile (42k) marathon.

The world distance Ironman is the ultimate multi-sport endurance event. Maintaining Ironman pace for up to seventeen hours will be a major task especially if the weather exceeds 25 degrees as in previous years.

The tight swim course will be a loop out to sea making it impossible to drink fluid and difficult to avoid jelly fish. Both the cycle and run courses are very challenging and will see many participants finishing well past midnight.

Athletes will need to have a robust nutrition strategy to combat a huge loss of fluid through perspiration – needing up to 28 litres over the 226k event.

Speaking about the event Peter said,

“I expect the 17 hour, 226k event to be the toughest challenge of my life to date. I watched it from the side line last year and the heat and piercing sun was unrelenting. I was gob-smacked that it could be so hot in Spain in October. My race strategy will see me go dangerously close to disqualification in the late afternoon and pick the tempo up on the run up to midnight – fingers crossed.”

Encouraging Peter on, Cllr Paul Lorber, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group said,

“St Luke’s is a great local charity and it’s really great to see someone doing something so impressive to raise money for them. We really wish Peter all the best and encourage him to remember to drink plenty of water!”

A Liberal Democrat councillor is to abseil to raise money for charity.

Councillor Chandubhai Patel, Liberal Democrat councillor for Sudbury, will be one of around 80 people to abseil down a 10-storey building on Friday 3rd September.

The event, which will see Cllr Patel abseil 130 feet, will take place from the 10th floor balcony of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother wing at St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, and is aimed at raising money for the Imperial College Healthcare Charity.  This is a broad-based charity which supports:

St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington
Charing Cross Hospital
Hammersmith Hospital
The Queen Charlotte Hospital
The Western Eye Hospital

The new feat follows previous charity efforts by the Liberal Democrat councillor, a pensioner, including a 10km run, and undertaking a challenge walking on hot coals.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Chandu Patel says:

“I am always up for a new challenge, so when I was asked if I wanted to abseil 130 feet down the side of a 10-storey building , I thought to myself, why not?

“It’s all in a good cause, because as well as keeping myself fit and healthy it means I can do my bit to raise money to help towards the important work that these Hospitals do.

“In an age where people are living longer, and quality of life is important, I hope it will also send a message that it’s never too late to have a go at something different.  Not everyone will choose this kind of activity, but there are many opportunities to improve and maintain fitness, from brisk walks to dance classes, that people can take up if they choose.”

Anyone wishing to support Cllr Patel’s efforts to raise money can send a cheque payable to the Imperial College Healthcare Charity to: Cllr Chandu Patel, c/o Liberal Democrat Office, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley  HA9 9HD.