Triathlon Postman Gerard swims, cycles and runs for charity

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Triathlon postman Gerard swims, cycles and runs for charity

http://www.portadowntimes.co.uk/news/Tr ... 4483912.jp

Published Date:
11 September 2008
By Victor Gordon
POSTMAN Gerard Martin has delivered hundreds of pounds for charity - with a more difficult fund-raising method each time.
The latest was the recent triathlon in London where he swam 1,500 metres in the city's Royal Victoria Dock adjacent to the River Thames, followed by a 40k cycle ride - passing sights like the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament and the O2 Arena - and ending with a 10k run.

The result was almost £700 for the Uganda Orphans Project, which is run by Portadown Methodists and which has built a superb orphanage in the East African country.

"I always like to have a charity project on the go, and after seeing a triathlon on TV, it appealed to me," said Gerard. "So I got into training, cycling and running all over the countryside, and swimming in Camlough Lake in South Armagh - it was recommended by friends as it's clean and free from pollution. I chose the Uganda project because fellow postman Eddie Drury is a main fund-raiser."

Of course, the Victoria Dock was not quite as fresh as Camlough Lake, and with 500 pairs of arms flailing around Gerard, not quite as peaceful. "But I got used to it and the swimming part wasn't too bad."

DIFFICULT

However, there was a slight snag with the bike, as a wheel was buckled during the flight to London and it rubbed on the frame for the entire 40k, making it more difficult to push - but he made it and finished the 10k run.

"My time was 2hrs 54mins and I was delighted with that," said Gerard, who lives in Brownlow and delivers mail in Scarva. "I also did a lesser triathlon in Dundalk as part of the training and that was great preparation."

There were 13,000 in the triathlon, in various sections over the weekend, with Gerard in the men's Olympics open - "not competing - just determined to finish, and the last 2k were murder!"

It was his fourth effort for charity over the years, the others being a solo run in the Belfast marathon and part of a relay the following year - both for Macmillan Nurses - and then a parachute jump at the
Wild Geese Centre in Garvagh, along with his wife Linda May, when he raised £1,600 for the 2004 Tsunami Appeal.

And what next? "Well, I'd fancy a really daring bungee jump - preferably in New Zealand where it all started," said Gerard. "A friend of mine once did it and told me it was exhilarating. Maybe some day..."

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* Last Updated: 11 September 2008 2:35 PM
* Source: n/a
* Location: Portadown