On Sunday August 5th 2007, Survival supporters Barney and Mike will swim, cycle and run in the London Triathlon, Olympic Distance, to raise money for Survival. Neither of them has competed in a triathlon before, and this video diary will record the highs and lows of training for and taking part in such a challenging event. Visit Barney & Mike’s JustGiving page to support them.

Mike Henson, 23
Sports researcher

Why are you doing the triathlon for Survival?
Survival looks after groups who really don’t have many other people sticking up for them in the world. It seems that, after all the wrongs that have been done to indigenous societies during the past, we still allow such a basic, clear justice to be steamrollered. It makes me really angry.

What are you most looking forward to?
Eating a load of high-calorie food in front of the telly the evening after the event, safe in the knowledge that I have earned it and we have raised a bit of cash of a good cause.

What is your biggest fear?
What lurks deep in the depths of the Thames. And the fact that it might include my lifeless body unless the swimming improves.

What’s the first thing you’ll do when it’s over?
Wander around aimlessly feeling a bit sick I imagine.

Why are you doing the triathlon for Survival?
Survival is a fantastic charity that needs our support. I first heard of Survival through a friend, but following the Bushmen case really cemented my interest. The Bushmen’s legal victory, in which the Botswana Supreme Court ruled that their eviction from ancestral lands by the government was ‘unlawful and unconstitutional’. This victory shows that the work of Survival can have a real and significant impact on tribal people’s lives.

What are you most looking forward to?
Relaxing in an armchair having (hopefully) completed the race, with a legitimate reason to be pampered for the rest of the day. Also it will be cool to be able to say that I’ve swum in the Thames.

What is your biggest fear?
Having said that, the swim is my biggest fear. The idea of dodging rusting shopping trolleys, whilst getting kicked in the face by hundreds of testosterone fuelled triathletes isn’t too appealing, but as long as I don’t cramp up and sink all should be fine…

What’s the first thing you’ll do when it’s over?
Pose for the cameras; I look good in the all-in-one, skin tight lycra tri-suit.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 6th, 2007 at 5:10 am and is filed under Act Now, Supporters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.