Coming down the Mountain 

In 2008 daredevil FSID supporter James Langridge will be skateboarding down Mount Fuji in Japan in order to raise vital funds for cot death research and support.

According to a Japanese proverb:

“He who climbs Mount Fuji once is a wise man, he who climbs it twice is a fool.”

So what does that make he who skateboards down it?

In his own words, James is:

“going to risk life and limb rolling down the mountain on a plank of wood, dodging ghosts, goblins, bears and molten lava along the way, all to raise money for the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID).”

At 3,776 metres (12,388 feet) Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan and is home to one of the longest continuous longboard descents in the world. Not only is it an active volcano but it is also populated by bears and reputedly haunted by ghosts and goblins.

The inspiration for this project came from Outdoor Japan, "Japan's bilingual magazine about outdoors, travel and active lifestyles". It had been his dream to conquer Mount Fuji ever since James read this article.

In the Alps, the longest route down is 10 miles, whereas the longest route down Mount Fuji is 16 miles (26 kilometres), of which just less than half are above cloud level.

In the last 1,226 years Mount Fuji has erupted 16 times at an average rate of once every 75 years. However, having last erupted as long ago as 1707, the next one is now a massive 225 years overdue making James’s attempt a truly risky experience.

If you would like to join James on his adventure, he can be contacted on: jdlangridge@hotmail.co.uk

Alternatively, you can help him smash his fundraising target by sponsoring him at: http://www.justgiving.com/skatemountfuji

James is covering the whole cost of the trip himself so any money that you donate will come directly to FSID.

You can also support him by joining his facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=23148910224 and inviting all your friends

If you'd like to do something crazy to raise money for FSID check out the Extreme Sports section of our website or take part in an Overseas Challenge.

For more information call us on 020 7222 8003 or email challenge@fsid.org.uk

 

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