You don't need a beard and balls to be an adventurer.

Yesterday, Sarah Outen completed her 4.5 year, 25,000 mile loop of the Northern Hemisphere by bike, kayak and rowing boat.

During the trip she became the first person to row solo between Japan and Alaska. 

She was inspired to do the trip by the early death of her father, aged just 53.

She said "I learnt from him to make the most of things when it's good and hunker down when it's not, and if you can do it with a smile on your face all the better.  His death was the ultimate reminder that life is finite."

How true is that.

Life is short and we really need to focus on the good that we have in our lives rather than constantly striving for more stuff.  Focusing on health rather than weight is a great place to start.

We currently taking part in Movember to raise awareness about male health issues.  

Over the next 4 weeks I'll be encouraging the guys who read this to check their beards and balls but also for the girls to check themselves out too.

Early detection and treatment generally increases the likely hood that the problem will have less of an impact.

The woman above has proven that women are fully capable of achieving great feats of endurance as have many before her.  Yet our young women look up to celebrities as role models, we need to encourage a shift in thinking.

The "This girl can" campaign is a fantastic example that skinny isn't the only way.

It's not too late to join our Movember challenge, donate just £10.00 to www.mobro.co/teamachieve and I'll add you to our private Facebook group.  

Darren 'Beard and balls checked' Checkley