Born Survivor is a gruelling sports event, designed to challenge even the most experienced fitness fanatic. Consisting of a ten kilometre run with no fewer than thirty obstacles to overcome, it is the ultimate test of physical and mental strength. The event is one that the British Army would come face-to-face with every day within their training, and has been created by British Royal Marines Commandos.

On Saturday 16 July, Born Survivor is coming to the Midlands for the first time to support Fisher House, QEHB Charity’s ‘home away from home’ for military patients and their families. Set within the beautiful 1,000 acres of Weston Park, this is sure to be an event to remember!

Since its opening in 2013, Fisher House at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham has given more than 9,000 nights of accommodation to the families of military patients. The QE is home to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, meaning it is the first port of call for all of the UK’s injured and ill military personnel. Fisher House provides a ‘home away from home’ for military families to stay in whilst their loved ones receive treatment in the hospital.

The family of Squadron Leader Andy Shenton is one such family have benefitted from the house, which cost in the region of £4.2 million to build. When Andy was diagnosed with a brain tumour his family had to travel over two hundred miles to an unfamiliar city with two young children. However, Fisher House provided accommodation for his family for the full duration of Andy’s operation to remove the brain tumour and his subsequent treatment. Andy said: “The unstinting support from both the staff and fellow residents, who are often going through similar ordeals, was priceless.”

Receiving no funding from the NHS or MoD, Fisher House relies entirely upon donations, with original large donations from Help for Heroes and the Fisher House Foundation in the US.

Justine Davy, Head of Fundraising at QEHB Charity, said: “We are delighted to be supported by Born Survivor. Born Survivor is an event designed by members of the UK military themselves, making this a truly apt partnership. On behalf of QEHB Charity, I want to thank Born Survivor for choosing us as a beneficiary, and to wish them good luck for their first event in the midlands; we can’t wait!”

Kevin Bedford, event director at Born Survivor, said “We’re delighted to be supporting the QEHB Charity. Their on-going work with and commitment to military patients and their families is a cause we are exceptionally keen to help. Our event is inspired by real life experience working in the forces and to be able to give something back to those the charity serves is a real privilege. We look forward to their fund raisers coming to take on our brutal 10km obstacle course, which is designed to test their fitness, team work and resilience to the limit; as well as giving them a great day out they will no doubt remember forever!”