Mike Featured in SourceWire.com | Feb 2010
FIVE WORLD RECORDS IN ONE WEEKEND: Mike Buss in Support of Help for Heroes @ Swindon Designer Outlet
Tuesday 23rd February, Swindon, United Kingdom – This weekend 35 year old Mike Buss, former member of The Royal Green Jackets who began his army career aged 16 at the Territorial Army centre in Swindon, broke five world records in his continuing bid to fundraise for Help for Heroes. The new world records which took place at Swindon Designer Outlet were witnessed by Lance Corporal Matt Croucher (Green Beret – Royal Marines), holder of the George Cross medal for gallantry, Corporal John Raymond and his colleague Craftsman Ricky Mehew of the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers (REME) attached to the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers based at Tidworth, Wiltshire. Almost £3,000 was raised for Help for Heroes to support Britain’s wounded troops and Mike’s extreme challenges were video recorded and await verification from the world record books.
They are: –
1. Multi-stage fitness test carrying a 40lb backpack New World Record = Level 9
2. Multi-stage fitness test wearing a full Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare suit and respirator carrying a 40lb backpack New World Record = Level 4.6
3. Multi-stage fitness test carrying a 120lb backpack New World Record = Level 4.3
4. Most step-ups in an hour carrying a 120lb (8 stone) backpack wearing army boots and camouflage trousers New World Record = 839 steps
5. Most step-ups in an hour wearing a full Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare suit and respirator carrying a 40lb backpack New World Record = 1,035
The hardest world record to set was doing steps-ups for an hour carrying the 40lb backpack whilst wearing a full Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare suit, because the respirator restricted Mike’s oxygen intake by 60%. The suit is completely airtight and Mike says ‘After the world record was set the first time, several people have tried and failed. The last time it was attempted the guy collapsed and needed full CPR treatment to revive him. After ten minutes I was soaking wet from sweat. It was like being in a sauna on overdrive for an hour!’ While he was doing the step-ups wearing the NBC warfare suit with respirator, AM Medical Services were constantly checking Mike over for eye dilation and responses to visual prompts throughout the hour.
The five world record attempts were the centrepiece of a free live music, dance and performance festival in support of Help for Heroes which was coordinated and sponsored by Blue Click PR Ltd, The Best of Swindon and the Swindon Designer Outlet. Bands taking part included a string quartet with vocalist named Buzwell and seasoned musician 12 year old Theo Altieri. The Bluebelles Majorettes performed outside in the sunshine and welcomed shoppers with their disciplined military beat, whilst the high-energy street dancing from the Hot Steppers also entertained the crowd indoors. Lance Corporal Matt Croucher was there to sign copies of his book ‘Bullet Proof’, written after he survived throwing himself on an armed hand grenade to protect three fellow soldiers on patrol.
Nick Williams, marketing manager of Swindon Designer Outlet, said: ‘Breaking five world records in one weekend is an incredible achievement and we’re thrilled with the level of support we’ve had from our shoppers who gave generously to Help the Heroes over the weekend.’ Mike Buss said ‘The atmosphere was brilliant and I so appreciated the crowd clapping to support my efforts. When the weight of the backpack hurt my back, hips and shoulders, I kept thinking how important it was to raise the money. I just imagined I was out there with the boys on the front line. Doing it all for them kept me focussed.’
Whilst the weekend event at Swindon Designer Outlet created a relaxed, almost party atmosphere at times, there is a serious side to what Mike Buss is doing. Mike has a Masters Degree in sports exercise science and specialised in sports nutrition. He is already at an ongoing level of peak fitness and says ‘I’m so used to doing these endurance events that I’ve gained ability to be able to take on extreme challenges.’ You can still donate to the cause through www.justgiving.com/mikes-worldrecords
Mike wants to relay a solemn warning to members of the public saying ‘These challenges should not be attempted by anyone who has never served in the army and no-one should undertake these world records without full paramedic supervision. You really should not ’try this at home’ as the risks are too high if you don’t know what you’re doing!’
Mike is looking forward to the next Brighton Marathon on April 18th carrying 40lb pack for 26 miles and wearing a full NBC suit with respirator. The next day he runs 57 miles to London in normal fitness gear and the following Sunday he will run the London Marathon in a full NBC suit with respirator carrying a 120lb back pack. To follow Mile’s exploits you can sign up for his newsletter by emailing activelifeuk@hotmail.com or follow him on http://twitter.com/MikeBuss
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For further details and press interviews, contact:
Rhona Jack Managing Director Blue Click PR Ltd. Mobile: + 44 (0) 7866 546221 Tel: +44 (0) 1793 635147 Email: rhona@bc-pr.com
Mike Buss World-Record Breaking Endurance Athlete Mobile: +44 (0) 7791 356482 Tel: +44 (0) 1793 766 066 Email: info@mike-buss.com
John Saunders – for jpegs of the event J S Photography Tel: +44 (0) 7740 120536 Email: john@jsphotography.info
Editor’s note:
Athlete’s Task Ahead
Endurance athlete Mike Buss has now beaten four world records since September 2009 and raised £11,000. He supports Help for Heroes because when he was medically discharged from the army ten years ago when an IRA bomb caused deafness in one ear. At that time, the support for injured military personnel wasn’t particularly good. He values highly the work of the Help for Heroes charity so he is on a mission to:
• Break 20 world endurance records in just 12 months (a feat that has never been achieved before). • Raise £100,000 by the end of 2010 and just over £1,000,000 by 2014. • Take on many of the world’s toughest challenges including the ‘Marathon Des Sables’ across the Sahara desert in 2011. • Finish a world record breaking 5 yr campaign by climbing Mount Everest in 2014.
Key sponsors including Jeep, Saucony, Berghaus, Cliff Bar, ISO2 Nutrition.
Former Lance Corporal Matt Croucher aged 24, from Solihull, West Midlands hit the headlines in February 2009 when he threw himself backwards onto a live hand grenade to protect his companions. He is lucky to be alive, surviving with just a few bad bruises, though his rucksack was shredded. He was awarded The George Cross, one of the highest military decorations for acts of gallantry. Only 44 George Cross medals have been awarded since 1959.
McArthurGlen Designer Outlets
McArthurGlen is the UK’s largest operator of Designer Outlets, with seven centres nationwide. The centres at Ashford, Bridgend, Cheshire Oaks, East Midlands, Livingston, Swindon and York, all offer a range of leading designer labels and high street brands with discounts of up to 60% off typical high street prices.
SWINDON is only six miles from WOOTTON BASSETT, the market town famed worldwide for the respectful way in which residents and visitors support mourning families of dead soldiers being repatriated from Afghanistan through RAF Lyneham.
This press release was distributed by SourceWire News Distribution on behalf of Blue Click PR Limited. For more information visit http://www.dwpub.com/sourcewire
Category: National Press
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