Gallery

Fundraising & Support Team

Name: Robin Baynes - Fundraising Coordinator

Personal Profile:

I am 58 years young and have recently celebrated my Ruby wedding anniversary with my wife Brenda who is kept busy indeed with our 7 grandchildren.

I learnt to swim at 9 years of age and within 4 years was the Liverpool Schoolboy Butterfly Champion and at the age of 15 was a National Schoolboy Champion. After leaving school I took up a career in the building industry and swimming was put on the back burner for a few years. I started a family in my early 20s and as soon as my 3 children were old enough, I enrolled them in the local swimming club and was soon involved in teaching children to swim gaining an ASA Club Instructors Certification. At the age of 32 I was introduced to the sport of Water Polo and played the sport competitively for the next 13 years. At the age of 45 I became aware of Master's Swimming Competitions and began training with the City of Liverpool Swimming Club, Which has led me to compete in many gala's around Britain and the World and I have won medals in most of the competitions in which I have participated.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

Through the loss of my sister-in-law to cancer, I became involved in fundraising for charity at the age of 48 and set up a committee to raise money for the Royal Liverpool University Hospital Forget Me Not Appeal. For this appeal I was part of a successful English Channel relay Swim and involved in founding the Across Mersey Swim which is now held annually.

After a good friend of mine suddenly died three years ago through a heart problem, I set up a charity called the Liverpool Heartbeat to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation the biggest event this charity organized has been a Scotland to Ireland relay swim which was successful and broke the world record which had previously been held by an American team.

To date I have with the help of many friends raised over £100,000.00 for various charities both locally and world wide. I hope that I can use my experience to assist tri-4-life in their efforts to raise the funds needed for the event to take place in 2006.

In my spare time I'm managing director of New Start. www.newstarthomes.org.uk.

Name: Helen Kirkham - PR Representative

Personal Profile:

I was finally persuaded into taking up sport after being the black sheep of the family for too long. I began by spending Sundays practicing my drafting skills before finally taking up running. I completed my first 10k three months later and have now also competed in a duathlon and triathlon. I have suffered a couple of injuries which have scuppered my training, but I've continued to get involved where I can by helping out at club events with the marshalling, lane counting and preparing results. Although the buzz of competition isn't quite the same as actually taking part, it is still a worthwhile contribution!

Reasons for wanting to take part:

I'm really excited about getting involved with an event as challenging and diverse as tri-4-life. I think 2006 will be a fantastic year for the team - both those completing the challenge and those working behind the scenes. Although I won't actually be coating myself in goose grease, it is still great to have the opportunity to make a contribution and help raise money for charity at the same time.

Name: David Graham - Natural High Roadshow

Personal Profile:

Pop Idol, David Graham, has performed with many of today's major chart acts on thousands of pop events and is increasingly becoming one of the most popular male solo artists in the country. He continues to headline theatres and concert halls throughout the UK, and has his own tremendously successful Natural High School Production. It is hoped that David will be joining the tri-4-life roadshow with his own award winning show that has hailed him as a unique talent in this field, performing to thousands of people each week. His song Natural High will be used as part of the drug awareness roadshow.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

Name: Jim Tinsley - Channel Swimming Coach

Personal Profile:

Reasons for wanting to take part:

Name: John MacCarfrae - Roadshow Presenter

Personal Profile:

So, the lives of your close friends come together and will be in your hands for one brief, monumental moment in time. It is a single celebration that will forever define your party-hosting skills…it looms ahead, and for once, the good graces of your entire social circle and reputation hang in the balance.

Pressure? Problem? No way!!

Call in Johnny Mac!

Johnny has more than two decades as a DJ, Party Host and MC that has earned him the reputation of being one of the best in the business. There isn't an event or occasion that he can't set to music

Reasons for wanting to take part:

Call me Johnny Mac…aka 'The Scouse Mouth'!

Basically, my role on the Tri-4-Life project is to act a roadshow host and to work audiences into a frenzy across various locations in the UK and Europe…before the main act hits the stage.

I am delighted to be a part of 2006 Challenge as it represents one of my life ambitions. When Liam asked me to support the team effort in 2006, I saw it as an opportunity to be a part of history in the making.

I have done a lot of fundraising myself in the past, but I want be a part of one of the biggest and the greatest fundraising gigs ever.

It is no big deal to help others less fortunate than yourself. It just means giving your time and using your natural talent to help the cause. Thanks to Liam and the guys for the opportunity to support!

Apart from my credentials as the guy that kicks it all off on the roadshows, I have completed 21 full 26.2 mile marathons over the years and no doubt, will be able to offer the team an additional motivational push to help them towards the finish line.

Name: Liz Kirkham - Support Coordinator

Personal Profile:

In 2000 my challenge for the millennium was to run in the Liverpool Women's 10k which I achieved and so began my running career! I had been a triathlon widow for many years and decided that it was time for me to join Alan on his training rides. The natural progression was to compete in a triathlon as part of a team where I did the bike section. At the end of 2002 I began to learn to swim front crawl and so the following year I was able to complete three sprint distance triathlons locally. My challenge this year will be to avoid injury and complete a standard distance race!

Reasons for wanting to take part:

It is important to me to be part of the team and be able to support them. We have a common goal and loads of enthusiasm and I hope we can raise lots of money to improve other's lives.

Name: Ray Dodd - Transport Coordinator/Roadshow Support

Personal Profile:

When I first heard about the tri-4-life challenge. My initial reaction was they're nuts. But after several discussions and meetings. I could feel the passion and excitement that was buzzing throughout the team, and thought how could I help. Although I am a keen fitness fanatic and feel that my skills as a driver can be put to good use as I am now 48 and have too many wonky parts.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

I work as a driver for Wirral Autistic Society and I am devoting my time to the team and believe you and me, time is one of the most precious commodities we have.

Name: Keith Rigby - Driver/Roadshow Support

Personal Profile:

I became involved with tri-4-life through my work with Liverpool heartbeat one of the supporting charities. Born in Liverpool I have had a full and varied life with and enjoyed both hospital work and the armed forces. I am now involved with IT.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

Though not a participating athlete I wish to be part of this fantastic and worthwhile adventure, offering what skills I have.

Name: Dave D'arcy - Driver/Roadshow Support

Personal Profile:

I am 54 years old, been married for 32 years have, 2 children and 1 grandchild.
I have always had an interest in sport, be it watching or competing. For over 20 years I played competetive badminton in both the Hoylake and Birkenhead District Leagues holding the posts of team captain, treasurer & secretary. Nowadays due to the oncoming of arthritis I am restricted to the more gentle exercise of leisure cycling and swimming.

I have taken part in the national BT swimathon which raises money for many worthwhile charities.
I work for the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral as an advisor in the Benefits and Revenues call centre. where we have recently raised money for charities such as Children in Need, Breast cancer and Red Nose day.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

My reasons for wanting to be a part of the Support team:

I have been driving for over 30 years, have a clean licence and am willing to give my time and experience to drive the length of Britain to support and encourage the team, in their sporting quest, to raise money for worthwhile charities.
One of the charities supported by the team, Stick and Step is very close to my heart. I have a 10 year old niece, Katie, who has cerebal palsy and without their help her quality of life would have been very poor.

Name: Chris Caulfield - Driver/Roadshow Support