Redditch man set to take on 2,000 mile cycle through Japan next month
Danny Ensor is doing the challenge in memory of his uncle
Last updated 15th Mar 2024
Over 2,000 miles through the mountainous terrains of Japan awaits a man from Redditch next month, who's set to cycle through the country in memory of a family member.
Danny Ensor is a former commando in the army, and lost his uncle Chris Dooley last April to a cardiac arrest.
Chris had served in the Royal Marines for 34 years, and had not long retired from the services when he passed away.
Now in his memory, Danny is determined to complete a month-long journey through Japan and raise money for the Royal Marines charity.
"When he passed away it was a big shock to us all," Danny said.
"He was such fit guy, and he was just taken away far too soon, but we had planned to go to Japan and travel, just not to the extent of this challenge that I'm going to be doing.
"I took it quite bad when he died because he was like an ultimate father figure and second father to me, so I'm using all of this as part of my healing process from all of that really, while raising some money for a cause close to my heart."
Supporting Danny every step of the way will be his friend Emanuel Gramada, who has agreed to cycle with him, and his dad, who will help navigate the pair along the way.
With no luxury hotels to stop at along the route, rough camping will be a regular form of getting any rest in between the cycling, something Danny isn't really worried about.
"It was all built into my training that I did when I was a commando so it doesn't bother me," said Danny.
"As a commando your rough and ready for anything so it's just about having that cheerfulness in the face of adversity, and smiling through the pain when it gets tough.
"The only thing I'm scared about in all of this is the bears in Japan, so that for me would be the only other obvious obstacle besides the cycling."
Training for the event has seen Danny and Emanuel cycle 22 miles every two days to build up endurance ahead of the cycle.
Having set his fundraising target at £30,000, Danny has already been blown away by the amount of support he has recieved.
He said: "The support I've had so far has just been so overwhelming to see, and I just honestly can't believe it.
"Ideally I would love to reach my target, but I also realise I've started my fundraiser early so when the main event of the challenge does get underway I'm hoping I can generate even more interest and support.
"Whatever I can give back to this charity though will be brilliant, and I'm just finishing off preparing everything for the challenge now so it's getting to a really exciting stage where I just want to get going."