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Sunday 12th Oct There is only one thing to do after completing a marathon: do another.The next is planned for the month of November.
Resilience
Sunday 12th Oct Well, on a cool humid Sunday morning, the rowing machine marathon was completed.Hit “the wall” as expected around the 30km mark but pushed on through.
You think it takes resilience to complete marathons, triathlons, ultramarathons?
But you’ll never be as resilient as the Palestinians who have survived two years of relentless bombing, death, destruction, and starvation.
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Boys don’t cry
Thursday 4th Sep In my adult life, and even late childhood, I can recall a public display of grief only twice.The first was at the funeral of my elder sister, twenty two years ago.
The last was whilst recounting the story of Hind Rajab at a storytelling workshop last year.
There is a flotilla headed towards Gaza intent on bringing relief and a ceasefire, backed by ordinary concerned citizens from around the world.
Maybe they can achieve what our governments and international agencies have failed to do in nearly two years.
The Story of Hind is a film shown at the Venice Film festival, to nearly half an hour standing ovation.
We are living through a crux moment in history.
One thing is for sure. Unless this war against genocide is lost, and events re-written, our grand-children will ask of us:” What were you doing during the Gaza genocide?”
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Location location location
Thursday 4th Sep Turns out the logistics of an island will be too much to take on, so scouting and trialling others instead.Images to follow soon!
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Premature Burial
Friday 29th Aug The bodies of fifteen medical and humanitarian workers were found in a mass grave in March 2025.The death toll of such workers is now over 1500, according to TIME magazine
The inconveniences and “hardships” I face during the average working day (whilst not unimportant) pale into insignificance.
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Verification
Saturday 23rd Aug So, how can anyone be sure that the Concept 2 rowing machine marathon will actually be completed?Well, every C2 machine has a PM5 monitor which records each workout.
This can be uploaded into a personal and public log-book.
Concept 2 also awards certificates of achievement, including for half and full marathons.
I am also considering a Facebook Live feed, but we’ll see.
I’ll post some evidence of progress on this blog.
Change of Date
Thursday 14th Aug We live in a seemingly increasingly binary world; of black and white, right and wrong, good guys vs bad guys.Most of the time, things are more complex, more grey, and perspective matters far more than we perhaps like to admit; never more so than when we are asked to consider one opposed to ours.
Maybe it doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game. The enemy of my enemy doesn’t have to be my friend, no more than the enemy of my friend needing to be my enemy.
Maybe there’s a better way; of conflict resolution, of compromise, of respecting the perspectives and principles of equity.
Maybe we can support those who want to champion peace, harmony, health and prosperity.
Maybe we can support those increasing global voices and organisations who call for an end to the genocide, starvation and violence, including MSF.
MSF supports these values, and that is what motivates my support for their endeavours.
It occurred to me that choosing the October 7th date may be misinterpreted as indicating support for violence.
To avoid any such misunderstandings, and also for practical reasons. I will be changing the date to Saturday October 11th.
The venue remains provisionally on Stradbroke Island; updates on the feasibility of this to follow.
Venue
Sunday 10th Aug So, where to do this rowing challenge?The current favourite location is somewhere picturesque on Stradbroke Island.
I’m estimating three and a half hours on the machine: have to consider something Instagram/social media appropriate.
Prep is going well; some minor niggles to keep an eye on.
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Tomorrow, when the war began
Thursday 7th Aug For some, it started on October 7th. For many it began with Balfour’s declaration and culminated in the Naqba, May 1948. For others, it began with the end of an ancient kingdom.What shouldn’t be in doubt is that the pain, suffering, hunger, disease and death needs to stop.
Humanity has been writing for over five thousand years. The words are fancier, the technological means of today are almost magical, yet it’s the same seemingly endless cycles of flawed, traumatised, generational revenge and violence.
Isn’t putting the civil back in civilisation long overdue?
Compassion.
Monday 4th Aug There’s a simple, inescapable truth.It is not possible to dehumanise others without losing what makes us human.
Please watch this video.
Preparation.
Monday 4th AugThe planning continues.
Half-marathon rows are relatively frequent and straightforward.
Now, it’s time to start upping the ante.
Another element will be choosing a venue.
Completing an indoor marathon in the garage, whilst doable, is perhaps less than visually inspiring, especially for any Social Media photo opportunities.
The other is the publicity.
That’s where you, dear reader, can also help. Perhaps the six degrees of separation concept will work out in our favour.
Spread the word, share the link.
For Hind.
Monday 28th Jul On January 29th 2024 a six-year old girl, travelling in a car with her family, was escaping the conflict in the North of Gaza into a safe zone.The car was targeted and shot at. The girl, miraculously, was the sole survivor. Trapped in the car for hours surrounded by the dead bodies of her family, she made a frantic, tearful, desperate call to the ambulance services for help; and two paramedics were dispatched to rescue her.
What happened next isn’t known for certain. What is known is that the bullet-ridden bodies of the six year old girl, and the paramedics sent to rescue her, were discovered twelve days later.
This is just one of thousands of stories of horror and violence that was sparked by the act of terrorism perpetrated by Hamas in Israel on October 7th 2023, in a deadly conflict going back decades.
The ongoing Gaza conflict has been perhaps the first in history to catalogue, on a daily basis, the horrific civilian casualties in the form of videos streamed directly into hand-held devices across the world.
I have nearly thirty years of experience in Anaesthetics across three countries. But the honest truth is that I do not have the courage to put my own life on the line to help those who need it most.
In the face of what has become nearly two years of worsening frustration, despair and helplessness, I must do the next best thing and support those who can.
Indoor rowing has been an on-off passion for many years.
The plan is simple. On October 7th 2025, row 42 195m on the indoor machine to raise money for the amazing humanitarian efforts of MSF.
In this way, I hope to give something back for those who not only risk their lives, but those who have paid the ultimate price to deliver patient care.
They are far more than heroes and heroines. They are reminders of the peak of professionalism, of compassion, of empathy, of hope, and of the power of sacrifice beyond the reach of most of us.
This effort is for the memory of the dead children of Gaza, and for those who died trying to save them.
Please, do what you can. Everything counts. Help me, help them.
Anthony
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Thank you to my Sponsors
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Timothy Jones
All the best to my man
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Good luck on your endeavour
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Carolyn Wills
Well done Anthony for a great cause!
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Kristine
I believe in humanity and am saddened by war. We need to stop the killing of innocent people. I want help to go to the innocent people caught in horrific circumstances not of their doing who desperately need food and medical assistance. I think is a wonderful cause to support Anthony. Thank you.
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Ania Harnden
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Andy Edwards
Good luck Anthony!
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Kate
Well done Anthony, such a good cause
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Tolu Hocking Gill
Proud of you bro!
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Anonymous
Great to see the momentum
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Tim P
Congratulations, Anthony! 👏💪
All the best Doc, hope your courageous efforts bring some solace to those poor innocent people.