Hampshire resident completes notorious SAS march up mountain for charity

A Hampshire resident has raised more than £500 for Diverse Abilities after completing The Fan Dance - a gruelling SAS-style test of endurance in the Brecon Beacons.

Alex Day, 34, who works for the Hoburne Group in Christchurch, took on the arduous 24km race over the Pen Y Fan mountain to support Hoburne’s fundraising for the disability charity.

Despite the poor weather conditions and tough terrain, Alex completed the challenge in three hours and 24 minutes, coming 16th out of the 197 competitors.

His initial fundraising target was £300 but Alex smashed it and raised over £500. The money raised will help fund the charity’s vital services for children and adults with physical and learning disabilities, and their families, including a specialist school, respite care, support in the home, activity centres, play sessions, and benefit advice and support.

Alex, from Barton-on-Sea, trained for three months in advance of The Fan Dance, which follows the route aspiring SAS and SBS members take during the UK Special Forces selection process.

Alex said: “It was the ultimate test of endurance, mental resilience, and strength, but it was worth every minute of pain to raise money for this worthy cause.”

“The conditions on the day were horrendous, but the camaraderie of everyone taking part was fantastic. When I crossed the finish line, it felt amazing, a real sense of achievement.”

Claire Cooper, fundraising officer at Diverse Abilities, added: “We are so incredibly proud of Alex for taking on this incredible challenge with such enthusiasm and determination. Fundraising is more important than ever to our services right now in the face of the cost of living crisis, so every penny raised really does make a huge difference in allowing us to continue providing extraordinary lives for extraordinary people.”

Anyone wishing to help add to Alex’s fundraising total can donate online at https://justgiving.com/fundraising/alex-day10.