TODAY your Argus is asking its readers to show their support for Newport’s own historymaker, Richard Parks, by helping him reach his mammoth £1 million fundraising total.

Now the former Newport Gwent Dragon has completed his epic 737 adventure in just six months, 11 days, seven hours and 53 minutes, he faces a new challenge.

Mr Parks set himself the target of raising £1 million for Marie Curie Cancer Care and admitted he knew the hard work to reach this ambitious total would come once the gruelling physical aspect was over.

He chose this charity as his father, Derek, was diagnosed with stomach cancer and had to have a large part of his stomach removed. His uncle, Terry, and a close family friend he considered an aunt both died following a battle with the disease.

Speaking to the Argus after his welcome-home celebrations at the Senedd, Mr Parks, 34, said: “We’ve got a new challenge now, knowing the main fundraising would be after the challenge was always a motivation to keep me going when times got hard.”

The total raised so far stands at just over £60,000 and now Mr Parks faces months of appearances, talks and interviews as he does everything he can to reach his goal.

The Argus wants to do all it can to promote Mr Parks’ cause and help towards his total, and we are asking our readers to donate or fundraise whatever they can, however large or small, to help a man who has done so much to make the city of Newport, and Wales as a whole, proud.

By becoming the first man in history to climb the highest mountain on each of the earth’s seven continents and reaching the north and south poles in the same calendar year, Mr Parks raised the bar for physical endurance and achievement.

Now, with the help of people from Gwent and across Wales, he can become Marie Curie’s million-pound man.

How to donate

ANYONE who would like to donate to the cause, or find out more about Mr Parks’ recordbreaking challenge, can visit www.737challenge.com to find links to the donation page and details on his challenge.

Alternatively, cheques can be made payable to the 737 Trust and posted to: 737 Trust, Greystones, 34 Ridgeway, Newport, NP20 5AG.

For more information about the charity and what it does, visit www.mariecurie.org.uk