Cipla's extreme athlete David Grier embarks on most daring challenge yet

Starting on 29 November in Pemba, Mozambique the multi-discipline, four month event will see him kayak  700 km across to Madagascar whereafter he will run the approximately 3000 kms up the centre of the island to the northern tip of Madagascar, before kite boarding  and paddling the distance back to South Africa. 

"I decided on a multi discipline event as I wanted to involve aspects that would challenge me in a different way," said the 49 year father of four. "The ocean has always played a massive part in my life from a young age, it's intrigued me, yet terrified me and has my utmost respect. By including the paddle and kite, I feel this will be my most difficult challenge yet as they are both relatively new sports to me so I am going to have to dig really deep as I've already experienced in training." 

As with his previous runs, the training for this challenge is as intense as ever.  "My training started five months ago with running only. I then went to the Sports Science Institute and had a special Core and Upper Body programme developed for me. I train four times a week for an hour and a half at Sports Science over and above the daily two hour runs and two hours kayaking out to sea.  I've now added the kite surf training of two hours per day, wind permitting.  On weekends I add in a six hour paddle." 

The risks are great, particularly on the first ocean kayaking stage as December is cyclone season so weather is unpredictable and swells can be extremely high.  The Ocean Adventurer, one of the world's most famous trimarans and previous holder of the world record for the fastest powered circumnavigation of the globe will support Grier on the paddle and be his base to rest up and sleep overnight.  She will also double as a training facility. 

In the midst of its annual monsoon season, Madagascar may not be much drier than the ocean and once there Grier 's mammoth run may be challenged by much flooding, no drinkable water in addition to massive stretches of uninhabited mountains, jungle and desert. 

A three man support crew will travel with him in 4x4's to provide constant logistical back up to allow him to maintain a relentless running pace of a marathon a day for three months. 

Then it's the  kite surf / paddle back to South Africa around late March next year, a fast 1200 km which Grier hopes will be helped along by the trade winds. 

Grier's not taking this on to satisfy his love of extreme adventure however. His motivation is much stronger than that and again he's raising funds for the Cipla Miles for Smiles Foundation, which supports non-profit surgical organization Operation Smile SA (OSSA).  David's fundraising effort has been given a massive boost with the help of the newly launched UK-based Give All Foundation which is assisting in the promotion and fundraising drive internationally. 

OSSA  is part of global organization Operation Smile which facilitates free reconstructive surgery for underprivileged children born with cleft lips, palates and other facial deformities. 

His two previous runs, with long time friend and fellow adventurer Braam Malherbe have raised R3 million for OSSA. "Having attended Operation Smile's recent surgical mission in Mpumalanga and seeing once again tears of joy and quiet wonder roll down the cheeks of a little child seeing his reflection for the first time after having surgery to repair a cleft lip just made me realize how this relatively inexpensive surgery can change a child's life forever," he says. 

"I'm taking on what is undoubtedly my most daunting challenge ever, solo, firstly to try and raise enough money to put smiles on many more children's faces and secondly to once again prove to people, particularly the youth, that you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to if you have the belief and are prepared to put in the effort.  I know it won't be a walk in the park but I know I can succeed in this challenge." 

Jerome Smith, CEO of headline sponsor, pharmaceutical company Cipla, said Grier's dedication and commitment to the Cipla Miles for Smiles Foundation and Operation Smile SA was humbling. "David Grier is astonishing.  By his own admittance the ocean stretches of this challenge are intimidating, yet he's courageous enough to face the fear and attempt to do something that's never been done before all in aid of putting smiles on faces of children he may never know or meet.  It takes a very special kind of person to do that and we are extremely proud to be associated with him. We wish him much luck, strength and success with the upcoming Madagascar challenge." 

News of David Grier's progress, blogs and photos will be available on www.milesforsmiles.co.za, as well as details of how to donate and help change the lives of children born with cleft lips and/or palates.