The 'Involve' ethos
In 2009, after a few years of sharing a percentage of the profits from BlueDucks Limited, with charities and worthy causes, I decided that just writing cheques didn't put the 'fun' in fundraising for me.
I wanted to do things that physically and mentally stretched me as an individual. Then, others said they wanted to get involved, too.
Below are just a selection of the events that have raised £130,000 net for charity and, as I look to 2026, maybe there's one more adventure?
2010 - 'Cycling Cuba'
North to south, covering 236 miles (380 km), in 5 days. Raising over £3000 for charity.
This challenge was organised and supported by the superb people at Charity Challenge, and started at Playa Jibacoa in the north, down to the coastal city of Trinidad.
2012 - North Pole Trek
A 12-day event that culminated in a 6-day 6-night 50-mile (80km) ski-trek to the geographic North Pole. Raising over £18,000 for charity.
This challenge was organised and supported by the superb people at Charity Challenge, starting in the archipelago of Svalbard, to finish our preparation, before the flight to the most northern airport in the world - Camp Barneo - and then a helicopter ride to our drop-off point.
2013 - Sahara trek.
A 5-day trek with 18 friends, covering more than 64 miles (100km) in one of those most varied and savage landscapes. The team collectively raised over £20,000 for charity.
This challenge was organised and supported by the superb people at Charity Challenge, starting with a six hour drive from Ouarzazate to Achbarou (known as the 'Door to the Desert'), through Mharech and up Jebel El Mrakib, across the magnificent Bouzaine dunes, and finishing at Announ Baadi.
2014 to 2019: multi-seat bike rides in the north of England
A series of one-day, three-day and a four-day event, covering more than 480 miles (800km), and raising over £15,000 for charity.
All the rides were planned, organised, and steered by me.
The multi-seat bikes were hired from Get Cycling CIC, in York, and our safety on the road was supported by the Yorkshire White Knights blood bikes (who are volunteers who, in their spare time and using ex-police motorcycles, provide free blood transportation between hospitals).
2015 - Thames row
Over 2 days, two teams of 6 rowers took on 64 miles (100km) of the River Thames, in copies of 19th century water taxis.
The challenge was agreed with, planned and supported by the superb team at The Ahoy Charity. It raised over £26,000 for charity.
2018: 24-hour non-stop karting competition
In honour of the memory of my cousin, Mark Winters, who tragically took his own life.
I planned and organised this ten-team event, but my thanks to PPIK Karting in Leeds, for hosting the event so wonderfully. It raised over £15,000 for charity, including MIND.
2018 - Longest Day
Over 200 people donned special eye masks or sight-impairing goggles, to find out a little more about what it must be like to be blind on 21st June (the day that has the longest hours of daylight, each year).
Hitachi Consumer Finance in Leeds, and Paymentshield in Southport, joined individuals across England, and smaller local Yorkshire businesses, to help raise £5,000 for two sight-related charities.