How many burpees could you do in a day? Ten? Maybe a hundred? Now imagine doing 10,000. That’s exactly what former Royal Marine Jamie Grant, 46, is setting out to achieve this weekend, pushing his body to the limit in an extreme test of endurance, all for a cause close to his heart.
A Battle Beyond the Battlefield
A former University of Worcester student and colleague, Grant is taking on this punishing 24-hour challenge to raise money for the Royal Marines Charity (RMA), an organisation that has been instrumental in supporting him through his own mental health struggles.
“It’s very daunting,” he admits. “But I’m confident, I’ve got a great mindset and a strong mind, and I’ll be calling on that a lot throughout the 24 hours. Physically, I’ve done everything I can to train.”
And he’s going to need every ounce of that mental resilience. To hit his target, he must average 417 burpees per hour, or roughly seven per minute, without stopping. The University of Worcester estimates he will burn between 6,000 and 8,000 calories during the challenge, equivalent to running back-to-back marathons.
A Life of Service and Strength
Grant’s determination comes from a lifetime of discipline. Having served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Royal Marines, he later worked in private security in the Middle East before returning to the UK to pursue a degree in sports therapy. Now running his own sports therapy clinic, he continues to battle his own challenges, this time, with mental health.
After reaching out to the RMA, he was connected with a therapist and began receiving weekly sessions combining cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
“I can’t thank the charity enough for what they have done for me,” he says.
An Unforgiving Physical Test
While Grant has prepared extensively, experts warn this will be an extreme test of both body and mind.
David Hickman, course leader in sports therapy at the University of Worcester, explains:
“The challenge itself is both physically and mentally demanding. It’s not just cardiovascular and muscular fatigue he’ll have to cope with, but also the strain on his joints. He’ll likely need a period of recovery, including walking, mobilising, and soft-tissue therapy like a sports massage and stretching.”
But Hickman and the university’s sports therapy team couldn’t be prouder of their former student.
“The whole sports therapy team at the University of Worcester are really proud of Jamie.”
Support Jamie’s Mission
With nearly £8,000 already raised for the Royal Marines Charity, Grant is hoping this brutal challenge will inspire even more donations. If you’d like to support him or learn more about his story, visit his JustGiving page and be part of his incredible journey.
