A Sunshine Coast businessman and performance coach will compete in an upcoming endurance run, with an extra 20kg in his backpack, to raise funds for dementia research.
Jamie Milne is motivated by the memory of his grandmother Nanny Mary, who was a positive influence on him when growing up, but also succumbed to the challenging health condition.
“I was destined for the darker side of life, there’s no doubt about it. Yet, the one person that maintained a real unwavering and steadfast belief in me was the one person who was taken from me first: my grandmother Nanny Mary,” Mr Milne said.
“She was a rock star. She was amazing. She was my motherly figure and, unfortunately, like a lot of people, dementia gets a hold of them and the rest is history.
“Dementia hits individuals first, then it hits everyone else. I know I found it difficult with my grandmother and seeing what dementia was doing to her.”
His Blackall 100 run next week also doubles as a world-record attempt. He is aiming to finish the gruelling run – complete with the extra weight (40lb or 19kg, to be exact) – in under 20 hours.
“If I can keep going – even if it’s just for one minute – with the weight of this pack on my back, then maybe those who are doing it hard in their situations can hang on for one more minute, with their patience for their loved one, their compassion for someone they’re caring for. Hang on with their empathy for the situation,” Mr Milne said.
Already Mr Milne, of Jamie Milne Training of Warana, has raised $16,000, well on the way to his target of $25,000.
This is the third of four world-record attempts he will make this year.
In January, he attempted to break the record for the most burpees in eight hours. He completed 4267, just 75 short of making the record his.
“It was horrible,” he said, with a smile, of the challenging attempt. “I was absolutely gutted, but I just couldn’t do any more.”
In June, his second world-record attempt came in the form of completing 24 hours of strict pull-ups. He managed 4500, well short of the current 7000 record.
And in December, he will attempt the world record for the most double-ups (skipping) in eight hours (to his credit, he holds the record for the most in 12 hours: 22,222).
But for today, his focus is squarely on the Blackall 100 – a 100km run through the Sunshine Coast hinterland on October 15 – and that heavy backpack.
“Through my action, I am encouraging people to not to give up,” Mr Milne explained.
“Having endurance in a Guinness World Record attempt – or having endurance in turning up for the really difficult things like the struggles of someone you love battling dementia and having to continue to be strong and show up for them – that’s what this is about.
“It is about not giving up, even when it’s really, really difficult.”
For more information and to donate to the campaign, visit Wairua World Record Warrior For Dementia Australia
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