Haslingden friends toast end of a marathon charity year

1:50pm Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Chris Adams

RED LETTER DAY Ben Zebrowski and Matthew Clawson with mascot Fred the Red at the Manchester United Santa Dash RED LETTER DAY Ben Zebrowski and Matthew Clawson with mascot Fred the Red at the Manchester United Santa Dash

TWO Haslingden friends who embarked on a different sporting challenge in every month of 2012 have raised almost double their initial target.

Ben Zebrowski and Matthew Clawson, both of Grane Road, originally set a target of raising £2,012 for the Brain and Spine Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

But a fantastic initial response to the duo’s early exploits prompted them to revise their target and attempt to raise £2,012 each.

Now, having completed all 12 events, they are planning a fundraising ball this month to take them over the threshold, having collected £3,942 so far.

University of Central Lancashire graduate Ben, who works for Lancashire County Council, said the pair were overwhelmed at the support they had received from friends, family and total strangers.

Their feats included gruelling open water swims, runs and bike rides and extreme sports like skydiving and canyoning.

The 27-year-old said: “We’re both chuffed to have finished it but there are mixed emotions because we really enjoyed doing it too.

“I was so nervous before the skydive in November but the apprehension in the build-up was a lot worse than the actual dive.

“It was the highlight for me. I was more relaxed than I expected, especially when the parachute finally came out.

“Hopefully with one or two more donations we can reach £2,012 each, which would be amazing really.” The fundraising mission, titled Challenge 2012, was set up in memory of Ben’s friend Simon Gough who died during a routine spinal operation.

In their final challenge, the Manchester United Santa Dash, they finished first and third, Ben just pipping Old Trafford season ticket holder Matthew to the finish line there.

Ben now intends to take part in this year’s Manchester and New York marathons, and Matthew is having a “well-deserved break”.

Comments (11)

2:53pm Wed 2 Jan 13

2 for 5p says...

That will look good on your CVs won't it lads, nice bit of adventure activity at others expense to boot.
I've got your number
That will look good on your CVs won't it lads, nice bit of adventure activity at others expense to boot. I've got your number 2 for 5p

8:10pm Wed 2 Jan 13

Rogi says...

2 for 5p wrote:
That will look good on your CVs won't it lads, nice bit of adventure activity at others expense to boot.
I've got your number
What do you contribute?
[quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: That will look good on your CVs won't it lads, nice bit of adventure activity at others expense to boot. I've got your number[/p][/quote]What do you contribute? Rogi

12:03am Thu 3 Jan 13

2 for 5p says...

Rogi wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
That will look good on your CVs won't it lads, nice bit of adventure activity at others expense to boot.
I've got your number
What do you contribute?
Honestly
[quote][p][bold]Rogi[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: That will look good on your CVs won't it lads, nice bit of adventure activity at others expense to boot. I've got your number[/p][/quote]What do you contribute?[/p][/quote]Honestly 2 for 5p

12:04am Thu 3 Jan 13

2 for 5p says...

Rogi wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
That will look good on your CVs won't it lads, nice bit of adventure activity at others expense to boot.
I've got your number
What do you contribute?
Honesty
[quote][p][bold]Rogi[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: That will look good on your CVs won't it lads, nice bit of adventure activity at others expense to boot. I've got your number[/p][/quote]What do you contribute?[/p][/quote]Honesty 2 for 5p

12:10pm Thu 3 Jan 13

MattClawson says...

We paid all of the costs out of our own pockets - entry fees, travel, accomodation - in total just over £1,000 each. None of the money we've raised is going to anyone other than the two charities.
We paid all of the costs out of our own pockets - entry fees, travel, accomodation - in total just over £1,000 each. None of the money we've raised is going to anyone other than the two charities. MattClawson

2:32pm Thu 3 Jan 13

2 for 5p says...

MattClawson wrote:
We paid all of the costs out of our own pockets - entry fees, travel, accomodation - in total just over £1,000 each. None of the money we've raised is going to anyone other than the two charities.
It's still part of the great charity scam
Other people donate money for you to do your hobby collect £2 grand from other people and I enforcice OTHER PEOPLES money, your then in the paper grabbing all the publicity.
If you were doing this purely for the good of the charity you would just send the money without another word being said you wouldn't be going to the LT to get your pics in the rag.
What is it lads up for promotion at work soon are you, when your bosses have read this they will have your number as well.
[quote][p][bold]MattClawson[/bold] wrote: We paid all of the costs out of our own pockets - entry fees, travel, accomodation - in total just over £1,000 each. None of the money we've raised is going to anyone other than the two charities.[/p][/quote]It's still part of the great charity scam Other people donate money for you to do your hobby collect £2 grand from other people and I enforcice OTHER PEOPLES money, your then in the paper grabbing all the publicity. If you were doing this purely for the good of the charity you would just send the money without another word being said you wouldn't be going to the LT to get your pics in the rag. What is it lads up for promotion at work soon are you, when your bosses have read this they will have your number as well. 2 for 5p

5:45pm Thu 3 Jan 13

MattClawson says...

2 for 5p wrote:
MattClawson wrote:
We paid all of the costs out of our own pockets - entry fees, travel, accomodation - in total just over £1,000 each. None of the money we've raised is going to anyone other than the two charities.
It's still part of the great charity scam
Other people donate money for you to do your hobby collect £2 grand from other people and I enforcice OTHER PEOPLES money, your then in the paper grabbing all the publicity.
If you were doing this purely for the good of the charity you would just send the money without another word being said you wouldn't be going to the LT to get your pics in the rag.
What is it lads up for promotion at work soon are you, when your bosses have read this they will have your number as well.
Great charity scam? I haven't asked you to donate anything, have I? And my hobby certainly isn't jumping out of planes either.

Try getting your head round this: we wanted to raise money for 2 charities that mean something to us; Ben's friend died aged 19 from a brain aneurysm. I have a close friend with Cystic Fibrosis - a debilitating disease that gradually reduces lung function and results in an increasing reliability on medication, all the while knowing you have a life expectancy of 40. Are you really so cynical to think that that isn't reason enough to raise a little money for charity?

And if you must know, we were contacted by the LT who wanted to write a piece about it; we didn't go begging the paper as you suggest.
[quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]MattClawson[/bold] wrote: We paid all of the costs out of our own pockets - entry fees, travel, accomodation - in total just over £1,000 each. None of the money we've raised is going to anyone other than the two charities.[/p][/quote]It's still part of the great charity scam Other people donate money for you to do your hobby collect £2 grand from other people and I enforcice OTHER PEOPLES money, your then in the paper grabbing all the publicity. If you were doing this purely for the good of the charity you would just send the money without another word being said you wouldn't be going to the LT to get your pics in the rag. What is it lads up for promotion at work soon are you, when your bosses have read this they will have your number as well.[/p][/quote]Great charity scam? I haven't asked you to donate anything, have I? And my hobby certainly isn't jumping out of planes either. Try getting your head round this: we wanted to raise money for 2 charities that mean something to us; Ben's friend died aged 19 from a brain aneurysm. I have a close friend with Cystic Fibrosis - a debilitating disease that gradually reduces lung function and results in an increasing reliability on medication, all the while knowing you have a life expectancy of 40. Are you really so cynical to think that that isn't reason enough to raise a little money for charity? And if you must know, we were contacted by the LT who wanted to write a piece about it; we didn't go begging the paper as you suggest. MattClawson

6:24pm Thu 3 Jan 13

DigForVictory says...

2 for 5p wrote:
MattClawson wrote:
We paid all of the costs out of our own pockets - entry fees, travel, accomodation - in total just over £1,000 each. None of the money we've raised is going to anyone other than the two charities.
It's still part of the great charity scam
Other people donate money for you to do your hobby collect £2 grand from other people and I enforcice OTHER PEOPLES money, your then in the paper grabbing all the publicity.
If you were doing this purely for the good of the charity you would just send the money without another word being said you wouldn't be going to the LT to get your pics in the rag.
What is it lads up for promotion at work soon are you, when your bosses have read this they will have your number as well.
Assuming you meant 'emphasise' 2 for 5p - what exactly is your problem with "other people" donating money to charity?

If you're too tight to put your hand in your pocket and donate a small proportion of your (hard earned?) cash to a good cause every so often then that's your prerogative, there's no need to attempt to blacken someone else's money raising efforts with disparaging comments and sly insinuations.

I think the article was pretty self explanatory as to why Ben and Matthew have their names and photos in the paper; the only "promotion" to speak of in regard to their amazing achievements is of the charities they are respectively fundraising for!

Maybe your time could be better spent doing something positive as opposed to casting aspersions on the kind deeds of others? Or even better, maybe you could jump out of a plane...
[quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]MattClawson[/bold] wrote: We paid all of the costs out of our own pockets - entry fees, travel, accomodation - in total just over £1,000 each. None of the money we've raised is going to anyone other than the two charities.[/p][/quote]It's still part of the great charity scam Other people donate money for you to do your hobby collect £2 grand from other people and I enforcice OTHER PEOPLES money, your then in the paper grabbing all the publicity. If you were doing this purely for the good of the charity you would just send the money without another word being said you wouldn't be going to the LT to get your pics in the rag. What is it lads up for promotion at work soon are you, when your bosses have read this they will have your number as well.[/p][/quote]Assuming you meant 'emphasise' 2 for 5p - what exactly is your problem with "other people" donating money to charity? If you're too tight to put your hand in your pocket and donate a small proportion of your (hard earned?) cash to a good cause every so often then that's your prerogative, there's no need to attempt to blacken someone else's money raising efforts with disparaging comments and sly insinuations. I think the article was pretty self explanatory as to why Ben and Matthew have their names and photos in the paper; the only "promotion" to speak of in regard to their amazing achievements is of the charities they are respectively fundraising for! Maybe your time could be better spent doing something positive as opposed to casting aspersions on the kind deeds of others? Or even better, maybe you could jump out of a plane... DigForVictory

6:58pm Thu 3 Jan 13

2 for 5p says...

MattClawson wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
MattClawson wrote:
We paid all of the costs out of our own pockets - entry fees, travel, accomodation - in total just over £1,000 each. None of the money we've raised is going to anyone other than the two charities.
It's still part of the great charity scam
Other people donate money for you to do your hobby collect £2 grand from other people and I enforcice OTHER PEOPLES money, your then in the paper grabbing all the publicity.
If you were doing this purely for the good of the charity you would just send the money without another word being said you wouldn't be going to the LT to get your pics in the rag.
What is it lads up for promotion at work soon are you, when your bosses have read this they will have your number as well.
Great charity scam? I haven't asked you to donate anything, have I? And my hobby certainly isn't jumping out of planes either.

Try getting your head round this: we wanted to raise money for 2 charities that mean something to us; Ben's friend died aged 19 from a brain aneurysm. I have a close friend with Cystic Fibrosis - a debilitating disease that gradually reduces lung function and results in an increasing reliability on medication, all the while knowing you have a life expectancy of 40. Are you really so cynical to think that that isn't reason enough to raise a little money for charity?

And if you must know, we were contacted by the LT who wanted to write a piece about it; we didn't go begging the paper as you suggest.
You could of turned the LT down.
[quote][p][bold]MattClawson[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]MattClawson[/bold] wrote: We paid all of the costs out of our own pockets - entry fees, travel, accomodation - in total just over £1,000 each. None of the money we've raised is going to anyone other than the two charities.[/p][/quote]It's still part of the great charity scam Other people donate money for you to do your hobby collect £2 grand from other people and I enforcice OTHER PEOPLES money, your then in the paper grabbing all the publicity. If you were doing this purely for the good of the charity you would just send the money without another word being said you wouldn't be going to the LT to get your pics in the rag. What is it lads up for promotion at work soon are you, when your bosses have read this they will have your number as well.[/p][/quote]Great charity scam? I haven't asked you to donate anything, have I? And my hobby certainly isn't jumping out of planes either. Try getting your head round this: we wanted to raise money for 2 charities that mean something to us; Ben's friend died aged 19 from a brain aneurysm. I have a close friend with Cystic Fibrosis - a debilitating disease that gradually reduces lung function and results in an increasing reliability on medication, all the while knowing you have a life expectancy of 40. Are you really so cynical to think that that isn't reason enough to raise a little money for charity? And if you must know, we were contacted by the LT who wanted to write a piece about it; we didn't go begging the paper as you suggest.[/p][/quote]You could of turned the LT down. 2 for 5p

9:11pm Thu 3 Jan 13

DigForVictory says...

2 for 5p wrote:
MattClawson wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
MattClawson wrote:
We paid all of the costs out of our own pockets - entry fees, travel, accomodation - in total just over £1,000 each. None of the money we've raised is going to anyone other than the two charities.
It's still part of the great charity scam
Other people donate money for you to do your hobby collect £2 grand from other people and I enforcice OTHER PEOPLES money, your then in the paper grabbing all the publicity.
If you were doing this purely for the good of the charity you would just send the money without another word being said you wouldn't be going to the LT to get your pics in the rag.
What is it lads up for promotion at work soon are you, when your bosses have read this they will have your number as well.
Great charity scam? I haven't asked you to donate anything, have I? And my hobby certainly isn't jumping out of planes either.

Try getting your head round this: we wanted to raise money for 2 charities that mean something to us; Ben's friend died aged 19 from a brain aneurysm. I have a close friend with Cystic Fibrosis - a debilitating disease that gradually reduces lung function and results in an increasing reliability on medication, all the while knowing you have a life expectancy of 40. Are you really so cynical to think that that isn't reason enough to raise a little money for charity?

And if you must know, we were contacted by the LT who wanted to write a piece about it; we didn't go begging the paper as you suggest.
You could of turned the LT down.
Do you not understand the concept of charity events?

People only donate if they know about it.
[quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]MattClawson[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]MattClawson[/bold] wrote: We paid all of the costs out of our own pockets - entry fees, travel, accomodation - in total just over £1,000 each. None of the money we've raised is going to anyone other than the two charities.[/p][/quote]It's still part of the great charity scam Other people donate money for you to do your hobby collect £2 grand from other people and I enforcice OTHER PEOPLES money, your then in the paper grabbing all the publicity. If you were doing this purely for the good of the charity you would just send the money without another word being said you wouldn't be going to the LT to get your pics in the rag. What is it lads up for promotion at work soon are you, when your bosses have read this they will have your number as well.[/p][/quote]Great charity scam? I haven't asked you to donate anything, have I? And my hobby certainly isn't jumping out of planes either. Try getting your head round this: we wanted to raise money for 2 charities that mean something to us; Ben's friend died aged 19 from a brain aneurysm. I have a close friend with Cystic Fibrosis - a debilitating disease that gradually reduces lung function and results in an increasing reliability on medication, all the while knowing you have a life expectancy of 40. Are you really so cynical to think that that isn't reason enough to raise a little money for charity? And if you must know, we were contacted by the LT who wanted to write a piece about it; we didn't go begging the paper as you suggest.[/p][/quote]You could of turned the LT down.[/p][/quote]Do you not understand the concept of charity events? People only donate if they know about it. DigForVictory

2:14pm Mon 7 Jan 13

bacupbabe says...

2 for 5p wrote:
MattClawson wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
MattClawson wrote:
We paid all of the costs out of our own pockets - entry fees, travel, accomodation - in total just over £1,000 each. None of the money we've raised is going to anyone other than the two charities.
It's still part of the great charity scam
Other people donate money for you to do your hobby collect £2 grand from other people and I enforcice OTHER PEOPLES money, your then in the paper grabbing all the publicity.
If you were doing this purely for the good of the charity you would just send the money without another word being said you wouldn't be going to the LT to get your pics in the rag.
What is it lads up for promotion at work soon are you, when your bosses have read this they will have your number as well.
Great charity scam? I haven't asked you to donate anything, have I? And my hobby certainly isn't jumping out of planes either.

Try getting your head round this: we wanted to raise money for 2 charities that mean something to us; Ben's friend died aged 19 from a brain aneurysm. I have a close friend with Cystic Fibrosis - a debilitating disease that gradually reduces lung function and results in an increasing reliability on medication, all the while knowing you have a life expectancy of 40. Are you really so cynical to think that that isn't reason enough to raise a little money for charity?

And if you must know, we were contacted by the LT who wanted to write a piece about it; we didn't go begging the paper as you suggest.
You could of turned the LT down.
2 for 5p.....What a mean minded person you are.
[quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]MattClawson[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]MattClawson[/bold] wrote: We paid all of the costs out of our own pockets - entry fees, travel, accomodation - in total just over £1,000 each. None of the money we've raised is going to anyone other than the two charities.[/p][/quote]It's still part of the great charity scam Other people donate money for you to do your hobby collect £2 grand from other people and I enforcice OTHER PEOPLES money, your then in the paper grabbing all the publicity. If you were doing this purely for the good of the charity you would just send the money without another word being said you wouldn't be going to the LT to get your pics in the rag. What is it lads up for promotion at work soon are you, when your bosses have read this they will have your number as well.[/p][/quote]Great charity scam? I haven't asked you to donate anything, have I? And my hobby certainly isn't jumping out of planes either. Try getting your head round this: we wanted to raise money for 2 charities that mean something to us; Ben's friend died aged 19 from a brain aneurysm. I have a close friend with Cystic Fibrosis - a debilitating disease that gradually reduces lung function and results in an increasing reliability on medication, all the while knowing you have a life expectancy of 40. Are you really so cynical to think that that isn't reason enough to raise a little money for charity? And if you must know, we were contacted by the LT who wanted to write a piece about it; we didn't go begging the paper as you suggest.[/p][/quote]You could of turned the LT down.[/p][/quote]2 for 5p.....What a mean minded person you are. bacupbabe

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