In the saddle through Central America

Jan. 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Over the years Kingswinford business man Gary James has participated in a range of physically challenging fundraising activities but more recently he pushed his personal boundaries even further.

In the latter part of 2012 Gary cycled through Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, his final destination, an astonishing 500 kilometre journey to raise funds for the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children).

Over the last five years Gary has participated in a number of

extreme challenges including walking on the Great Wall of China,

a trek to Maccu Picchu in Peru and cycled from Saigon in Vietnam

to Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

His 2012 gruelling adventure was the most physically challenging he has ever undertaken as it involved cycling through undulating terrain with punishing high altitudes and extreme heat and humidity.

Gary signed up for the challenge with event organisers Discover Adventure who have been running extreme fund raising activities all over the world since 1994. His company Alcomet, suppliers of electrical metals and earthing components to the electricity substation market, has sponsored him.

Alcomet has supported the NSPCC with many corporate fund raising initiatives including an annual black tie Gala Dinner attended by suppliers and customers in the electricity power generation and transmission sector.

Gary put himself through a strict training regime to improve his levels of personal fitness to ensure he was able to complete the challenge working closely with personal training expert Jon Hope to achieve his ’tip top’ condition.

He cycled through, what is considered to be, the world’s most stunning scenery. With primary rainforest and diverse habitats, where there are many species of birds, mammals, reptiles and insects, Central America is home to over 20 percent of the world’s biodiversity.

He said: “I’m naturally pleased to have completed the challenge as it is was a tough 500 kilometre trip involving high temperatures over rough terrain through primary rainforest, passing smoking volcanoes which meant climbing steep gradients.  But it was a lifetime experience and I am really pleased to have travelled through three Central American countries as well as riding along the beautiful Caribbean coast with banana and pineapple plantations. It was awe-inspiring and took my mind off the fact that I spent 9 days sitting on a very narrow saddle.”

Gary has to-date raised in excess of a staggering £40,000 over the years for the NSPCC, a charity that aims to end cruelty to children in the UK.

Gary is now planning to take on the physical and mental challenge of cycling through Death Valley in America and has already started training.