As part of his ongoing preparation for the 737 Challenge, former Wales flanker Richard Parks recently put himself through another gruelling endurance test – climbing Pen-y-Fan as many times as possible in 24 hours.

Richard shared his first climb with single leg amputee Captain Anthony Harris of A Company, 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, who lost his leg this year after the Jackal vehicle he was patrolling in was blown up by an IED in Sangin in May 2009. He was also supported by members from Project Mobility 4×4 charity.
 
In December 2010 Richard will start the unique, multi-discipline 737 Challenge. A gripping seven-month expedition to climb the Seven Summits, which are the highest mountain on each of the world’s continents, and venture the last two degrees to the South Pole and the last degree to the Geographic North Pole. And all against a seven-month clock!

If Richard is successful, he will become the first person to have stood on the three Poles, namely the South Pole, the Geographic North Pole and the summit of Everest, in the same calendar year, and set a new benchmark in the climbing of the Seven Summits. He also aims to raise £1 million for Marie Curie.