Mud, Sweat and Team Spirit: Our Tough Mudder Challenge for Dementia Carers Count

It was Saturday 20th of September and two of our brokers Danny Hession and Davin Syndmah swapped office chairs and phones for mud pits as they took on the notorious Tough Mudder challenge.

Twenty obstacles. Ice baths, electric shocks, climbing walls, and endless mud.

Why put themselves through it? To raise money and awareness for a cause very close to our hearts: Dementia Carers Count.

Why we ran

In the UK, over 700,000 people are unpaid carers for loved ones living with dementia. They are sons, daughters, partners, and friends who often juggle jobs, family life, and financial pressures alongside the round-the-clock demands of caring.

Our brave brokers Danny and Davin before the start.

It can be lonely, overwhelming, and exhausting. Many carers feel invisible, and many go without the emotional or practical support they desperately need.

Dementia Carers Count steps in to make a difference. They provide:

• Expert training to help carers understand dementia and respond to changing behaviours.
• Counselling and wellbeing support to ease the emotional burden.
• Practical resources that make daily caring a little more manageable.

Every pound raised through Danny and Davin’s challenge helps fund these vital services, giving carers the recognition and help they deserve.

The challenge itself

Tough Mudder is no ordinary run. It’s designed to test stamina, teamwork, and grit. From plunging into freezing ice baths to hauling themselves over near-vertical walls, Danny and Davin pushed through kilometre after kilometre of punishing obstacles.

Danny attacks the obsticles.

Davin gets mucky.

There were moments when the mud felt endless. Muscles ached. Energy dipped. But the thought of the carers they were running for, people facing even tougher daily battles without rest, kept them moving forward.

“It was brutal at times, but knowing we were running for carers who face tough challenges every single day kept us going. We’re proud (and still washing the mud off)!”

The finish line wasn’t just a personal victory. It was a symbol of hope and solidarity with the thousands of carers who rarely get recognition for the strength and resilience they show every day.

The results so far

Thanks to your incredible support, our JustGiving total has already reached £3,800. That’s enough to fund around 72 hours of counselling for dementia carers who desperately need a listening ear.

But we’re not done yet. Our target is to raise £5,000 by the end of 2025. Every donation, big or small, makes a real difference in the lives of carers.

More than just fundraising

For us, this challenge wasn’t only about raising money. It was about raising awareness. Dementia doesn’t just affect those diagnosed. It impacts entire families, workplaces, and communities.

By putting ourselves through mud, sweat, and aching muscles, we hoped to shine a light on the quiet struggles carers face every single day, and to remind them they are not alone.

How you can help

We’d love your support to keep the momentum going.

👉 Donate directly through our JustGiving page for Dementia Carers Count

Davin with his completion medal.

Danny at the finish line.