Forever-Strong gym members tackle endurance mud run

Photo: Lisa Jayne Rennie Photography

Members from Forever-Strong Fitness and Performance completed the tough Born Survivor 10k endurance 'mud' course

Gym members from Forever-Strong Fitness and Performance in Rochdale completed the tough Born Survivor 10k endurance 'mud' course to prove they can overcome any challenge - and raise money for charity.

Many of the team had not stepped foot in a gym until 12 months ago and would never have expected they would be able to complete the military inspired course.

The event - which was held at Capesthorne Hall in Macclesfield on 12 May - sees competitors climbing through muddy swamps, swinging across bars, clambering through trenches and helping eachother over huge walls.

There are more than 30 obstacles across the 10km terrain and every member of the Forever Strong team completed them all, raising hundreds of pounds for Springhill Hospice and Melanoma UK.

Gym member Mark Dixon, 49, said: “Two and a bit years ago I was well over 24st and heading towards a stroke. Fast forward to 2018 and I’m six stone lighter and nearing 50 so I’m still far from being the type of person who would do Born Survivor. Add to that that I’ve got a longstanding injury to my left knee it wasn’t looking good.

“However, I had my Forever Strong family with me who took turns in helping me through the mud over various obstacles and I even had the energy to help a couple over the wall at the end. “I couldn’t have done it without my FS family.”

Fellow member Julie Rothwell added: “Completing Born Survivor was a dream come true.

“A year ago, I was not in a good place after cancer had taken my beautiful mum, but the friends I made at Forever-Strong inspired me to complete Born Survivor and I now know nothing is impossible.”

Head coach Gary Rothwell said: “It is incredible to think that some of the team first stepped in a gym less than a year ago.

“To complete such a tough military course just shows that if you are determined enough and have the right support you can overcome any obstacles, not only on an endurance course but in life too.”