Former paratrooper sergeant Ricardo Pallisco is set to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the fastest time to walk 100 miles carrying a rucksack weighing an incredible 100 pounds.
Ricardo, 39, who owns a bike shop in Paisley, is set to take on the challenge in January to raise £10,000 for Who Dares Cares, a charity that helps serving military, veterans and blue light service personnel.
His feat would be the equivalent of carrying two big toddlers from Glasgow to Edinburgh and back.
The scale of the task dwarfs the notorious entry test for the Parachute Regiment - is a 10-mile march carrying 37lbs in one hour and 50 minutes.
Ricardo, who served in both the Paras and Scots Guards between 2000 to 2018, said he came up with the idea as a way to give something back after a military career spanning 20 years, and included tours of Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
He said: “I’m very fortunate that I avoided any physical or mental injuries during my military service. So I’m doing this crazy challenge to give something back to my comrades who weren’t so lucky.
“Basically I’m walking from Glasgow to Edinburgh and back along the Forth and Clyde Canal path carrying a Bergen (backpack) weighing 100 pounds.
“The people from Guinness have confirmed that if I complete this I’ll officially hold the world record for walking 100 miles carrying 100 pounds, which is more than double the weight that soldiers carry in their annual combat fitness test.
“My wife and my friends think I’m mad, but I’m a goal-focussed person and this is the kind of challenge that really inspires me.
“I’m hoping to raise £10,000 for Who Dares Cares to help military and blue light veterans that are suffering from PTSD and other illnesses.”
He added: “This is an amazing charity that helps military and blue lights vets to deal with problems and issues caused by their service. It’s humbling how generous people have been so far, and I know every penny I raise will go towards helping comrades who are suffering and need all the support they can get.”
Dad of two young sons, Ricardo, has been training for the gruelling 100 mile challenge under the supervision and training of another former Parachute Regiment soldier, Mike Chadwick.
Former SAS soldier Colin Maclachlan and KOSB veteran Calum MacLeod set up Who Dares Cares to help veterans and their families deal with PTSD.
Services provided by the charity include weekend retreat, PTSD awareness sessions and a confidential buddy service.
Colin said: “We’re really proud and appreciative of what Ricardo is doing to help Who Dares Cares.
“100 miles trek carrying 100 pounds is an epic challenge, and not one that many people could attempt, never mind complete. “We’re confident that Ricardo will manage this, and we encourage people to get behind this world record effort by sponsoring him, which in turn will help our charity support veterans and their families.”
To sponsor Ricardo, go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/100miles100lbs
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