Muscle Warriors get send off with GRIM Haka

Muscular Help Foundation charity co-founder and Polar adventurer Michael McGrath turned the daunting GRIM Challenge off-road fundraiser into an event that saw his Muscle Warriors™ break the charity’s own record (set at 43 in Dec 2008) for the largest ever team entry participating for a single cause. Hertfordshire-based Michael has been recruiting over the past 12 months and this year his growing army of Muscle Warriors™ received a massive Muscle Haka™ send-off thanks to London based Maori Community Club ‘Ngati Ranana’.

Muscle Dreams™ provide amazing personalised life experiences in the UK to children and young people afflicted by the muscle wasting disease muscular dystrophy – for these individuals and their families it could be anything from meeting their favourite sports team, being driven in a Ferrari or enjoying some top VIP hospitality whilst watching their favourite band or pop group. In delivering these Muscle Dreams™, the charity recognises the absolute values of hope, courage and inner strength epitomised by the beneficiaries as well as their families.

The GRIM course was used by the James Bond film makers to shoot a hovercraft chase in the movie Die Another Day – but those who took part in this “fun-run” didn’t have the luxury of any powered transport.

Muscle Warriors GRIM-podcast (mp3) Running time 6 mins Produced by Sarah Lowther Download here

“Our Muscle Warriors™ once again did us hugely proud. This event isn’t known as the GRIM without good reason!” said Michael who is a tireless fundraiser for the charity despite himself being confined to a wheelchair by muscular dystrophy.

“Muscular dystrophy is a cruel and unforgiving disease – it robs sufferers of their mobility, their independence and finally for those with the most severe form, predominantly children, their lives – all of the children that our Muscle Warriors™ are raising money for will never be able to tackle such a challenge even when they become adults – it would be impossible and yet the money raised will help some of them realise unforgettable experiences they’ll never forget.

“I know that several of our Muscle Warriors™, including my daughter, three of the charity’s Trustees, a mother whose 12-yr old son has muscular dystrophy together with three charity partners representing Saracens RFC, Oxford Brookes and Odyssey Knebworth were cursing me when they were up to their waists in freezing mud and water – but they can at least take comfort in knowing their pain will help ease the suffering of some of these children, giving them a life-changing experience and a memory that will forever be remembered.”

Michael, a well-known motivational speaker, is no stranger to enterprising fundraising and is an inspiration to thousands of others around the world with this most debilitating disease that remains the single biggest genetic killer of children on our planet today.

In 2002, despite his own condition deteriorating, Michael led an expedition to the North Pole – a feat he repeated two years later when he got to the South Pole and in so doing, he became the first and only disabled person to have reached both Poles. Michael’s feats earned him a mention in the Queen’s 2004 Christmas Day broadcast from Buckingham Palace in recognition of his contribution to national life. This has subsequently brought further recognition for the charity he co-founded together with fellow polar adventurer Miles Peckham for fellow sufferers even less fortunate than himself.

Although Michael has already smashed the record for the largest team ever to compete in the eight year history of the GRIM Challenge, he is once again signing people up for what he refers to as … the Mother of all Muscle Warrior™ GRIM-days … scheduled for Saturday 4th December 2010.

“Having muscular dystrophy is permanently ‘GRIM’ because there’s no treatment to delay or reverse the progression. There’s still no cure for this disease. Through our Muscle Dreams™ programme, we work hard to give children whose muscles are broken and wasting away something to look forward to and for their families something to always remember and cherish.”

About Muscle Dreams™
These can cost anywhere between £250 to for example £5000 – The Muscular Help Foundation (MHF) is unable to fund every single Muscle Dream™ nomination received. If you or your company would like to either help us raise further funds so we can deliver more Muscle Dreams™ or perhaps sponsor s specific Muscle Dream™ or offer resources (people) with skills and/or time in helping the charity to scale up its operational capability, you can contact us via email or phone us directly on +44 (0) 1763 274658.

About Michael McGrath
Michael is the co-founder of The Muscular Help Foundation. He works tirelessly to raise funds and awareness of muscular dystrophy, a disease that he himself suffers from, a disease that remains the single biggest genetic killer of children in our world today. A relentless and unforgiving disease, it robs sufferers of their mobility, independence and finally for those with the most severe form, predominantly children, their lives.

Michael is a well-known inspirational speaker and an inspiration to tens of thousands of people around the world both with and without this disease. In 2002, despite his worsening condition and with the guidance back home from Pen Hadow, his polar pal and fellow Ready Steady Cook contestant (the pair appeared on the programme in Feb 2007), Michael led an expedition to the North Pole, an achievement he repeated two years later at the South Pole. In so doing, he became the only disabled person in the world to have successfully led expeditions to both the North and South Poles.

Michael’s extraordinary feats earned him an invitation to Buckingham Palace in December 2004 where he joined a small group of invited guests representing the diverse communities of Britain and subsequently, he appeared in the Queen’s 2004 Christmas Day broadcast to the nation from Buckingham Palace in 'recognition of his contribution to national life'. This has subsequently brought further awareness for the charity established for fellow sufferers even less fortunate than himself.

Within the past year (2009) and as a direct result of further muscle deterioration, Michael has lost his ability to walk. He now uses a powered wheelchair which he himself light-heartedly refers to as his ‘chariot’. This enables him to continue with both his charitable work and his advisory / speaking assignments in engaging the hearts and minds of audiences around the world.

From the press office of The Muscular Help Foundation
Registered Charity No. 1096716

Join Michael’s growing army of Muscle Warriors™ today ...
Email michael@musclehelp.com