Man takes on mammoth fitness challenge to raise £31,000 for Ipswich Hospital
15,000 Burpee’s, a 26 mile Ski-Erg, and 52 mile bike ride all within the month of March.
Last updated 18th Feb 2022
Bruce Shand is taking on an incredible fitness task in order to raise £31,000, for Ipswich Hospital's children's ward. He will be doing 15,000 Burpee’s, a 26 mile Ski-Erg, and 52 mile bike ride all within the month of March.
Originally born in Scotland, Bruce has chosen to raise money for Ipswich Hospital because, one of his own children was born there and he thought "it made sense to give back to the sort of hospital that's been there for me whenever I've needed it, (and to) give back to the county that I've spent most of my life in."
In an interview Bruce explained that he was taking on the challenge after understanding what it means to see what it is like for children, and parents to go through a very difficult time. One of his own children went in with appendicitis, but it's not the only experience he has had.
He told us: "I think when you see any child with an illness, it's a snowball effect, you sort of, turn up to the hospital, you expect to be in and out and then you get told something else and get something else, its not a fun experience, you have your fear, and then trying to calm a child down too.
"I've got a niece who had leukaemia when she was 4 and it was such a horrific time. And watching my brother and his wife, who just had a baby as well, go through it as parents, and being a parent as well... I don't know how they do it. I just have such admiration for the parents who have that strength.
"And touch wood I've never had to deal with it seriously myself, but I just hope I would have a little bit of the strength they have... The children themselves... they just take it in their stride so bravely. It's so admirable, that's why I am so keen to get this (money) raised because if it just makes one day better that they're in that hospital.. then I feel like I've achieved something... but it is a horrible feeling having a child in hospital."
He said that he felt the need 'to do something. '
In order to achieve his goal, Bruce has laid out a plan.
He gets up at 6am, has a banana and a coffee before doing 100 burpee's. Before waiting 15 minutes and then doing another 100.
At work, during lunch, he will do a 100 more.
After work, he goes to the gym to make progress with his distance in both the skiing and cycling, before coming home and doing the finial 180.
He has said he aims to do 500 burpees a day, hoping to have some 'in the bank' for the days where the challenge becomes harder.
He told us he chose burpee's as many people absolutely hate the idea of even doing 15, let alone 15,000. He responded
"They are the worst thing to do but they are a really good exercise and they are really hard to do and that's a challenge and its got to be a worth a challenge to raise the money for the kids on the ward, the staff and the parents."
Bruce has also declared if he is unable to reach his goal of £31,000 by the end of March then he will continue to do 500 burpee's a day, until he reaches his goal.