A Scottish dad of two and former paratrooper is walking from Glasgow to Edinburgh and back whilst carrying 100 pounds in a rucksack in the hope of raising £10,000 to help fellow veterans.
Ricardo Pallisco, 39, will also attempt to set a new Guinness World Record by completing the fastest walk over 100 miles whilst carrying a bag weighing 100lbs.
The inspirational veteran will take on the monumental task in January 2023 and hopes that his bonkers plan will motivate people to help him reach his £10,000 target for Who Dares Cares, a charity that helps serving military personnel, vets and blue lights service members.
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He will travel along the Forth and Clyde Canal path carrying a Bergen bag weighing 100 pounds - this is the equivalent of lumping two large toddlers from Glasgow to Edinburgh and back, the Daily Record reports.
The veteran, who now owns his own bike shop in the west of Scotland, served in the Paras and the Scots Guards between the years of 2000 to 2018 and says that he wants to complete the challenge in order to give back after experiencing a career in the armed forces for 20 years, having served tours in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
His task is so severe that the notorious entry test for the Parachute Regiment - a 10-mile march carrying 37lbs in one hour and 50 minutes - pales in comparison.
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, please click here.
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