11:00am Monday 22nd March 2010
ACCORDING to Kirsty Gorton, partner Mike Buss is her very own hero.
“Mike wants to give our injured soldiers the best possible start to civilian life by selflessly giving up hours, days and weeks to raise money for Help For Heroes,”she said.
Mike, from Highworth, has figured regularly in the Adver over the past 12 months for his amazing running world records.
In January, the tireless fund-raiser broke the world record for the distance covered running on a treadmill in one week.
During seven days at the Brunel Centre, Mike covered 517.25 miles, breaking the existing record by more than 50 miles.
That was his fourth world record since October 2009.
He subsequently ticked off a few more world record feats at the Outlet Centre over a weekend of record-breaking in February, which included step-ups and running multi-stage fitness test by either carrying a backpack or wearing a full nuclear, biological and chemical warfare suit, which restricts oxygen intake by 40 per cent.
Mike aims to break 20 world records by October this year and raise around £100,000.
Kirsty said: “Mike may be a confirmed lunatic, but he has a passion for the Army. He himself was left almost deaf by a car bomb explosion in 1998 while serving with the Royal Green Jackets in Northern Ireland.
“After being medically discharged, he found himself homeless on the streets of London unable to adjust to civilian ways of life.
“Thankfully, injured soldiers and their families now have help from the fantastic charity, Help For Heroes, which was a natural choice for Mike's chosen charity.”
Next month Mike will run the Brighton Marathon with a 40lb rucksack, then make the 57-mile trek to London the following day to prepare for the London Marathon the following Sunday.
In June he plans to embark on a gruelling 100 marathons in 100 days.
Rhona Jack, of Blue Click PR, has been a great supporter of Mike, describing him as a great ambassador for Swindon gaining positive publicity.
She said: “Mike’s feats of endurance push the human body to the limit. Reports of his treadmill world record made headlines worldwide, especially on television in Australia.”
She said that Mike, who has set himself the goal of becoming the fittest man in the world, has completed a masters degree in sports nutrition and qualified as a PE teacher.
“Inspired by Help For Heroes, Mike gave up work last April, devoting himself to fund-raising for injured servicemen with the assistance of local regiments,” she said.
“An ordinary man, Mike overcame massive disappointment and now does extraordinary things for others.
“Troops in Afghanistan email their support and appreciation, and he even inspires military top brass through his endeavours.”
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