A BARROW adventurer who pledged to do 30 incredible things to mark turning 30 is preparing for his final challenge.

Tom Quinn, of Gloucester Street, Barrow, will be cycling 900 miles from John O'Groats to Land's End in what will be the culmination of an extremely eventful year.

READ MORE: 30 challenges for turning 30: Barrow engineer in bid to complete year-long physical test

In his previous 29 challenges, Mr Quinn, who works at NW Total Engineering Solutions, has run, swum, hiked, peddled, paddled and skydived, and is now on the finishing straight - if that's possible to say - with 900 miles still to go from mainland Britain's most northerly inhabited point to its most southerly.

Some of the year's highlights include climbing to the base camp of Mount Everest, kayaking the length of Windermere and completing the Great North Swim.

Special year

The whole idea of doing 30 things to mark turning 30 on April 8 came about as a laugh between Mr Quinn and his friends and colleagues.

Mr Quinn said: "I just joked with the idea of doing 30 challenges for turning 30.

"I've done marathons before. I did the first marathon and then the second time you ask for sponsors and you feel like you need to go further as it's like you did that last year.

"A lot of people say I'm crazy and a lot of people say it's pretty amazing.

"A lot of people are already asking what I'm doing for my 31st birthday or my 40th."

The 30 challenges have seen Mr Quinn push his body to the limit and travel across the country to take on Total Warrior Leeds, the Manchester Marathon and the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

Speaking on challenge number 30, which he will start on Saturday November 12, he said: "It's going to be challenging, especially at this time of year.

"I started big with the Everest Base Camp and wanted to end big.

"I'm hoping to get in done in eight days."

Schedule for challenge 30

Day one: John O'Groats to Carrbridge – 147 miles

Day two: Carrbridge to Dunfermline – 123 miles

Day three: Dunfermline to Penrith – 135 miles

Day four: Penrith to Manchester – 110 miles

Day five: Manchester to Worcester – 114 miles

Day six: Worcester to Weston-super-Mare – 100 miles

Day seven: Weston-super-Mare to Launceston – 104 miles

Day eight: Launceston to Land's End – 95 miles

Physical demands

The relentless pace at which the project engineer has had to recover from a challenge and then prepare for another has been one of the hardest things about the year.

On many occasions, Mr Quinn has taken on marathon-length runs and swims and then turned up to work the next day with blisters, sore feet and aching muscles, amazing his colleagues.

He said: "It's been quite hard, especially over the summer, because I was doing one or two every weekend for a good stretch, from the end of April to the end of August.

"I was unpacking all my stuff and then getting ready for the next one. It's been tough sometimes, thinking 'why have I signed up to this?' but it's great to look back on."

Mr Quinn has been raising money for St Mary's Hospice and Cancer Research UK all year.

Donations can be made here and here .


Tom Quinn taking part in the Great North Swim. LEANNE BOLGER <strong>30 challenges for turning 30</strong>

1. Everest Base Camp - January 3

2. Oulton Park Half Marathon - February 28

3. Coniston 14 - March 19

4. Brathay Belter Sportive Cycle Ride - March 20

5. Kayak the length of Windermere and back again - April 2

6. Manchester Marathon - April 10

7. Cumbrian Way - April 29

8. London to Paris Bike Ride - May 13

9. Brathay Marathon - May 22

10. Via Ferrata Extreme at Honister Slate Mine - May 29

11. Yorkshire Three Peaks - June 4

12. Triathlon Coniston - June 11

13. Great North Swim - June 12

14. The Wall Rat Race - June 18

15. Total Warrior Leeds - June 25

16. Total Warrior Leeds - June 26

17. Barrow to Manchester Bike Ride - July 2

18. Man v Lakes Rat Race - July 9

19. Three Lakes Kayak Challenge - July 16

20. Three National Peaks Challenge - July 23

21. 'Quinny's Quadrathlon' (swim, run, kayake and cycle at Windermere) - July 30

22. Walney to Whitby Bike Ride - August 26

23. Way of the Roses Bike Ride – August 28

24. Man v Mountain Rat Race - September 3

25. Skydive - September 4

26. Coast to Coast Scotland Rat Race - September 10

27. Lake District 3000 - September 24

28. Kayak around Walney - October 15

29. Men's Health Survival of the Fittest Manchester Rat Race - October 29

30. John O'Groats to Lands' End Cycle Ride - TO BE COMPLETED