Vorovoro Iron Maiden 2009

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Some tribe members this year have seen me swim to the headland whilst the sun’s rising and scamper across the sand when the sun’s setting (whilst having coconuts thrown at me from the President of the Hammock Society!)

Why am I doing this?

I have been planning to complete the Iron Maiden for a while and now the rainy season is over, the route has finally been detangled and cleared and the sea’s calmed down. I am now ready for the challenge!

You might have heard through the Coconut wireless about the first ‘Vorovoro Iron Man’ challenge which Ben Keene and Giles Dawnay completed back in August 2008 and they both raised an amazing amount for Survival International. As Vorovoro has been my home for the last year, I decided to be the first Vorovoro Iron maiden as well as do something beneficial and raise money for the same charity Survival, helping indigenous tribes all around the world.

So what is the Iron Maiden?

The Iron Maiden consists of two challenges on Vorovoro:

1. Firstly, running (well, jogging!) across and over the 4 peaks, including the scramble up to the recently completed dam; then following the mangroves, back on to the beach and finally along to the Tribewanted village to the Volley ball court.
2. A quick slurp on a coconut before grabbing a snorkel and mask, jumping into the sea and swimming the outline of the whole island; around the headland, across to Nakawaqa, along the coastline past the old jetty and Tanoa Park, around the rocks at secret beach, past the waterfall before the final stretch back to the village…phew!

To make the second part even more of a challenge, I am going to leave my fins behind and just use arm actions and leg power to get myself around.

Although I am no professional, I am aiming to do the Iron maiden in less than 2 hours 45 minutes.  I have clambered across the peaks before and swum around the island on various occasions, I won’t have achieved both these challenges together, straight after each other until this day.

When is the Iron Maiden?

I am aiming to complete the challenge on the 2nd July, but in true Fiji style fashion, this is weather and tide dependent. The tide in particular is crucial to get right as it needs to be out enough whilst I am running over and along the island but in enough when I start the swim.
It will definitely be completed in the first week of July and I will keep you all posted.

Further information:

• Check out Survival International.
  
• Sponsor me and support Survival.