Man City coach to take on epic charity challenge which more people have been to space than completed

27.03.2022 - 19:47 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

A Manchester City football coach is to tackle two epic charity challenges in a matter of months as part of the club's drive to help youngsters with mental health issues.

Jamie Carr, 30, who coaches the under-14s at the Blues' Academy, will this weekend begin the Marathon des Sables, a six-day, 155-mile ultra-marathon through the Sahara desert.

Then, later year, he will row 2,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean, from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean in just a seven-metre rowing boat. "That's the one that blows everyone's minds," he said. "More people have been to space than rowed an ocean solo." Jamie is believed to be the first person to ever do both challenges in the same year.

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He says he was inspired after seeing footage of both of them on TV. "I saw the races years ago and was mesmerised by them straight away to be honest and I was like 'I'm doing that" he said. "I remember seeing the Marathon des Sables on a Discovery channel documentary with James Cracknell doing it.

"And I saw four women crossing the Pacific Ocean in a rowing boat a few years later. I just wanted to do them at some stage. When lockdown came I thought there was no greater opportunity for me to combine both these challenges into one year and raise a load of money for charity. "

His bid, which he has dubbed the 'nothing ventured' campaign and he has spent 14 months training for, is raising cash for two charities close to his heart - including a City programme aimed at helping Manc kids with mental health issues.

Before joining City four years ago, Jamie who was born and bred in Dublin but now lives in Didsbury, had a stint coaching in India which he says sparked his passion to work with youngsters. And in his current role,