A SPORTY duo will be bringing the olympics to Abingdon by completing every Olympic event during the Tokyo Games to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Stuart Bates a window cleaner and Charlotte Nichols a student doctor from Abingdon will be completing all 80 events across the 17 days that coincide with the Tokyo games, July 23 – August 8 2021, to mark the 10-year anniversary of Mr Bates losing his brother, Spencer (Spenny), to motor neurone disease. They have branded this event ‘the Spennylympics’.

The 'Spennylympics' will certainly be challenging as the events include a marathon, a 240km cycle, a 10km swim, 10m platform diving. the pair will also take on some more interesting sports. Mr Bates and Ms Nichols take on synchronised swimming, skateboarding, surfing and Greco-Roman wrestling.

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These events will be completed across various UK locations, mainly in Oxfordshire, where they both live, Weymouth, where Mr Bates and his brother Spenny were raised, and London, where they have been given access to a host of facilities from the London 2012 games.

They have recruited more than 50 former and current Olympians to act as ambassadors and mentors for their specific event. This includes athletes such as Tessa Sanderson CBE, Sally Gunnell OBE, Joe Clarke MBE, Liam Heath MBE, Anna Watkins MBE and Hannah Mills MBE. They are also being supported by GB weightlifter and special ambassador, Emily Muskett (Godley), who lost her mum, Celia, to this terrible disease just before Christmas.

Mr Bates and Ms Nichols said: “We are both excited and terrified by this challenge in equal measure! We have been astounded by the level of support and interest throughout the British Olympic community that we have received so far and are incredibly grateful to everyone who is working hard to help us achieve this dream. We are so motivated to raise vital awareness and funds for MNDA in memory of Spenny and for all of those currently battling this disease for which there is currently no cure.”

They are also receiving support from Abingdon School who have offered access to all of their facilities for the duration of the event and local sports massage company Sports Specific who are tending their aching limbs in the preparation for the event and looking after them over the 17 days of the challenge.

For more information visit: Spennylympics.com

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