Participants of the first ever 24seven Challenge, which took place last weekend (11 & 12 October), are celebrating their achievement in completing the endurance event whilst helping to raise £36,000 for CLIC Sargent, the UK's leading children's cancer charity. 

A total of 68 people took part in the event, which pushed body and mind to the limit with a series of seven physical and mental challenges completed over 24 hours.  Up until the event started at 12pm on Saturday, participants were kept in the dark as to exactly what the event would require them to do, which was all part of the fun! 
 
The challenge, which took place in the beautiful Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, began with a mini triathlon encompassing mountain biking, running and kayaking down the River Wye.  The 21 teams of 3, and 4 individuals that took part were then faced with a 530 piece jigsaw featuring one of the children that CLIC Sargent has helped, which they had to complete at rest intervals over the course of the 24 hours.
 
Other challenges that they were faced with during the event, which was blessed with glorious weather, included a 10 mile orienteering course through forests, caves and across water, a 6 mile mountain bike trail with memory tests and an ominous task aptly named 'Water Torture'! 
 
27 year old Tom Inchley from Milton Keynes won the individual event, closely followed by Lewis Rumsey from St. Leonards on Sea and Liz Williams from Cheltenham.  The team category was won by 'Airtight', which was formed by Michael Paterson from Middlesex and Rob Rafferty and Richard Fitxhugh from London. Richard said:
 
"A brilliant 24seven event - what great fun and great fundraising.  Hard to believe that this was the first one as it ran like clockwork.  Clearly winning it dulls the aches and pains we have, but the legs will never be the same again! Having been subjected to exhaustion, both physical and mental, frustration and confusion, indecision, stress and trauma it was quite a weekend. But at the end we get to go home - and this, I guess, is the key point. A 24-hour glimpse of the sort of emotions that the patients and families that CLIC Sargent helps, go through.  Except, they don't get to go home after one day."
 
He continued, "I hope that next year's event is massive  - it should be.  If anyone is thinking of entering I would say: CLIC Sargent is after one day of your life. You don't have to be the fittest - but you can be. You don't have to have all the kit - but you can. You don't have to play to win - but you do have to play to be proud of yourself. You don't even have to train - but it cant be a bad thing. Athletes and amateurs will get the same value from it. And you can raise significant amounts of money for a really noble cause, whilst finding out a bit about yourself that you wouldn't do down the pub. One day of your life, to go a beautiful resort and spend time testing yourself and your friends in a team. If you really don't think you have the stones to take part - then it might be time to have a long hard look at who you think you are."
 
The final challenge was to raise sponsorship for the charity behind the event.  CLIC Sargent's Challenge Events Manager Beverley MacKenzie said, "We were thrilled with the way that 24seven Challenge has gone.  The money raised will go directly towards helping the children and young people that are diagnosed with cancer and their families. We are the only organisation to offer all round care and support and this money will ensure that we can be there every step of the way."