Bio
My name is Gus I was born with Cerebral Palsy and I currently live in Southampton. I’m normal in that I like my sport and friends. However I’m unusual about the way I go about things, this has led me to become a Get Outdoors champion for Ordnance Survey.
Being born with a disability was not my first and only challenge. I survived repeated assault and attempted murder from the ages over 7-11. It left me with physical scars and took a long time to face.
I gained confidence by getting to play American Football. Getting involved had a dramatic effect on my academic performance. Raising me from the bottom to the top quarter academically.
Eventually, I decided to give dealing with my abuse ago under the guise of starting a hand at university. In my first year, I was told that one of my older brothers was terminally ill. I was told that I had the condition also, 11 years later that was revealed to be a clerical error. I worked up to getting a scholarship from Southampton University for an MSC. On that journey to gaining my MSC, I lost not only my brother but my father died suddenly too, pushing my challenge further. Four years after they both passed away my mum lost a short battle with ovarian cancer.
All these personal challenges pushed me on to achieving a lot for others, I have gone on to complete various challenges including 99,000 miles rowed/cycled on the Red Funnel ferries, row around the Isle of Wight, 11 marathons, two world records on the rowing machine and a Mont Blanc Trek. I have a number of challenges in store for 2017 including a Trek through Borneo. I have been fundraising for charities for a long time. In 2017 I will be fundraising for Weldmar hospice and raising awareness of the benefits of getting outside to mental health.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gusrolls
