Personal Profile:

My introduction to adventure sport was as a founder member of the British Hang Gliding Association developing the available science and technology to fly higher, further and longer for over twenty years. I have always kept fit through my work in the construction industry. I enjoy all aspects of the swim, bike and run events. Starting many years ago in the seaside fun runs I have competed in the Liverpool 10K every year since its conception and have completed all run distances up to half marathon. My swimming developed through various pool based events towards the qualification of Open Water Life Guard with the National Life Saving Association. I have completed the Across Mersey Swim for the past two years and finished third in my age group at the Bala Middle Distance Triathlon Championships.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

To be part of a team spanning three generations with a common goal is superb. To experience this event at sixty years old really sums up 'tri-4-life!' Keeping fit and staying healthy is so important, if you can be with friends, enjoy the journey and raise funds for others, what a great life!

Personal Profile:

Played rugby for Hoylake for 21 seasons, aged 15-36, competed in scrambling (moto cross) and motorcycle sand racing in 1964-1965. Then went to sea until 1986, playing rugby during home leave. Started running after retiring from rugby. Best results Wirral marathon 1983 in 3hrs 9mins and several under 30 min 5 milers. Took up triathlon in 1990 and joined Mersey Tri. Also a member of the Road Runners Club and Birkenhead AC.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

To complete a major challenge before I am too old (some say I'm too old already!) and to be part of a fantastic team raising money for charity.

Personal Profile:

I have been a keen sportsman all my life. Playing football has been my passion since a young boy. Progressing from youth and school teams through to numerous senior sides I have combined my working life at Rolls Royce/Bentley Crewe to play in most positions securing regular first team action for almost thirty years. As part of the team I have achieved local and regional honours in both the Saturday and Sunday West Cheshire and Merseyside Leagues. After a successful playing career it felt natural to give something back to the game as a Manager, leading several teams to league and cup glory. Although involved in sprint distance triathlon events for the past eight years I have recently competed in the Bala and Chester Standard Distance Races and successfully completed the Across Mersey Swim.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

As a family we have been involved in several fundraising events over the past three years. The good times we have shared as a team, with the support of our families, has been great for everyone involved. I am looking forward to all aspects of this challenge in guiding its success for both us as a team and for the charities we are supporting.

Personal Profile:

I consider myself to be a down to earth kind of guy, easy going ready to give any challenge a go and always up for a good time. I have grown up as part of a large family and the eldest of seven children. During my youth I was an active member of numerous clubs such as the Cub Scouts , Scouts, Church Lads Brigade and the Air Cadets. My sporting talents were developed through swimming, cycling, running, boxing and hang gliding. I have attained local and regional honors in the above sports and work as a Senior Quantity Surveyor in the construction Industry.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

There are many reasons for my involvement in the fantastic event. The social aspects of keeping fit as part of a like minded team have been inspirational in the achievement of my seasonal goals. The opportunity of being part of this event in reaching out a hand of friendship with the message of healthy living and lifestyle is a once in a lifetime experience. To fundraise in all major cities from Scotland to Brussels in doing our small bit for those less fortunate is both rewarding and humbling. To complete this challenge along side my father and my son will be an endearing legacy for the future story tellers of my family.

Personal Profile:

During my lifelong enjoyment in sport participation, I have been fortunate to represent my club, county and region in swimming, boxing and skiing. I have travelled the world and experienced many diverse environments on expedition experiences with the Army Cadet Force, Royal Marine Reserve and Raleigh International. The subsequent teamwork and leadership skills have transferred into my working career in the construction industry, gaining BTEC, HNC, CITB, HND and CIOB qualifications. In sport I am a qualified canoeist with the BCU, a Dive Leader with BSAC, and an ASSI ski instructor and coach with Snowsport England and BASI. I hold a current first aid certificate with BASP and have served as Chairman of the Merseyside Ski Club since 2002. I have gained a BSc Hons. Degree in Sport Science and Biology and awarded full University Colours for Boxing, voted Student Union Sports Person of the Year and winner of the Sport Science and Physical Education Academic Achievement Award. I have competed in sprint, standard, middle and long distance triathlon events, and looking forward to Ironman Lazorote in May in preparation for our European Challenge.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

tri-4-life is the realisation of a simple dream to make a none stop journey from the northern most point of the United Kingdom, to the capital of the European community, whilst spreading a message and reaching out a hand of friendship from Merseyside to all the cities, communities and individuals that we share this journey with.

A group of average everyday friends have been brought together by a vision, passion and enthusiasm through a common interest in the sport of triathlon. Keeping fit, raising funds and having fun with the many challenges and opportunities it has to offer. tri-4-life is about active participation in a unique sporting event for the intrinsic values that it brings. It's about getting up of your backside and making a difference to your community, your family, yourself and your life whilst raising much-needed funds for those less fortunate.

Name: Robert Beaver - Team Secretary

Personal Profile:

I have been a runner for many years, competing in several marathons and many half marathons. Three years ago I took up Triathlon, which has lead me to my hardest challenge to date. Most importantly I have the support from 'her in doors'.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

I have the opportunity to partake in the longest triathlon the UK has ever seen, which includes a Channel swim. I feel I have been very lucky in life, with a supportive family, good health and plenty of opportunities. I feel that it is about time I gave something back. This is a great opportunity to raise money for charities, Tri 4 Life and Liverpool's profile.

Personal Profile:

Joining the Royal Navy straight from school for six years, then joining the Seismic Surveying Crew’s working overseas in the Oil and Gas industry for another four years, gave me a very unique experience in travelling the globe. Deciding ten years at sea was enough the decision to move move back home was pretty easy.  Now working as the Group IT Manager for a polymer engineering firm I can plan time around my outdoor activities and home life. Sport has always played active part in my life, beginning at a very early age with kicking the ball against 'Grumpy's' garage door to playing semi-professional football in the Southern League through to the present and competing in Ironman Austria 2004.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

Having a wife and a five year old son in good health along with a good job makes me realise how fortunate we are, and how much is taken for granted. The main aim in taking part in this event is not only to raise money for the charities listed, but to raise awareness of ‘Every little helps’. Along the way to achieving this goal, if we can influence people into a little extra sporting activity then we have made a difference…there is no such word as ‘can’t’.

Personal Profile:

I have been a keen tri athlete since 1996
I have entered all categories in triathlon ranging from 'sprint' right up to the Ironman distance.
I am competing in Ironman Austria, The Longest Day and Sherbourne Half Ironman in 2004
Also taking part in Audax long distance cycling event and road races.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

It's the 'ULTIMATE' triathlon.
It will be a huge achievement.
To stretch myself to the limit of total endurance.
To challenge myself both physically and mentally.

Personal Profile:

After taking up running some time ago, I have been fortunate enough to compete in 13 marathons and run for Sefton, New York Harriers and Liverpool Pembrooke Athletic clubs. Achieving my goal in running 2hrs 38min in New York. I have turned to triathlon for an all round fitness instead of focusing on just one event.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

To let a lot of people less fortunate than ourselves benefit from our effort during this challenge.

Name: Paul Platt - Cycle Technician

Personal Profile:

PE/Outdoor Pursuits Instructors (Wirral Autistic Society)
I have 12 years experience on instructing various groups of mixed abilities in outdoor centres throughout the country. I have taken part in expeditions in Wales and Scotland and have successfully circumnavigated Anglesey, Mull and Skye by sea kayak. I have cycled from North to South of France and Pyrenees. I am an active climber, mountaineer and tri athlete.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

Satisfaction of helping raise money for charity.
Helping the less fortunate.
Being part of a team of friends with the same goals.
Personal challenge and experience.

Personal Profile:

From an early age I have enjoyed exercise and fitness, which now I do as my day to day job. Over the years I have entered many endurance events mainly when I was in the armed forces. I always enjoy a personal challenge. This is one of the reasons I took up triathlon. I hope to enter many more events in the near future. The biggest one being tri-4-life Europe 2006

Reasons for wanting to take part:

I enjoy a challenge and feel this will be a great event to take part in and look forward to raising money for different charities.

Name: Kieren Hanlon

Personal Profile:

Upon leaving school I needed to find an interest to help progress my sporting and leisure activities. With a keen interest in the military I decided to join the Royal Marines Reserves, whilst training to obtain the Green Beret I decide to start boxing as a way of enhancing my endurance and stamina. Once I had obtained my Green beret I continued with boxing and had a couple of bouts but during this time in my life at university I realised that boxing no longer presented the type of challenge I desired. As a result of this I looked for another hobby, that's when I discovered Triathlons. Once I had done one or two events I realised what a rewarding experience it was both physically and mentally and soon realised that this was the type of challenge I was looking for.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

I feel that to be part of such a magnificent event which would not only be a rewarding experience for myselfbut one of wide scale in raising money for charities local, regional, national and international

Personal Profile:

I am a year nine pupil at Plessington R.C. High School in Bebington. I enjoy most sports and have competed in youth triathlon, swimming and skiing events. I play basketball for the school team and I have also played for Wirral. I have been a member of Merseytri junior triathlon club for three years and enjoy training and competing very much. I like to help people when I can and treat life as a journey rather than a challenge. I am interested in most subjects in life and I am keen to give anything worthwhile a go. This challenge will be a great personal achievement for me to be part of a fantastic team raising funds for charity. I am really looking forward to the tri-4-life challenge and wish myself and team mates the best of luck!!

Reasons for wanting to take part:

The reason I am taking part in this challenge is to help those less fortunate than me in life, hopefully the money we raise will make life a little easier for them. It is sometimes easier to turn your back on problems or take things for granted, I think this challenge will help me get to know myself better in becoming more aware of the problems around us. I think I am very lucky!!!

Personal Profile:

A keen sports person from an early age, I represented school and New Brighton Rugby Club at Colt level. At seventeen, I started boxing for Willaston ABC, representing Merseyside and the North West on numerous occasions. In 1991, I boxed for a British Title at the Royal Albert Hall in the ABA finals. I lost on points deciding then to retire with a top five British rating, I stayed involved with the sport as a coach until the late 1990,s.
I ran the Snowdonia marathon in 1993-94-95 and in 2003 in my early forties decided I was still worthy of another challenge and completed the longest day triathlon an iron man distance event. This brought me to my involvement with Mersey Tri, the challenge of iron man Austria, then finally Tri-4-Life 2006.

Reasons for wanting to take part:

Together with a good group of fellow athletes and the knowledge that we are raising awareness for the sport, much needed funds for worthy causes and people less fortunate than ourselves, we endeavour to complete the CHALLENGE!