Wales on Sunday launch campaign for Parks to be honoured

6th December 2011

Sunday saw the Wales on Sunday newspaper launch a campaign calling for Richard Parks to be honoured for his incredible achievement completing his world first 737 Challenge whilst aiming to raise £1m in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Readers can vote how they think Richard should be honoured by completing the questionnaire here.

Click below for all the details on the campaign and to complete the questionnaire.

Renowned adventurers have all paid tribute to Parks’ extraordinary feat as the Wales on Sunday and Wales online launched the campaign to see Richard’s achievement to be recognised nationally.

Explorer and adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes told the Wales on Sunday: “Obviously I’ve not only got behind the 737 Challenge but I was behind him before he did it and I still am. I think he’s brilliant and I can’t speak highly enough of him”.  He added; “I haven’t done anything as remarkably concentrated as Richard has done in the 737 Challenge and I don’t think anyone would be able to repeat it.”

The 67-year-old, listed as the world’s greatest living explorer by Guinness World Records, said he had been abroad and not realised former Wales and Barbarians flanker had not made the shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year adding; “If someone had said to me ‘Who shall we put up for that?’ I would have said Richard Parks immediately.”

Adventurer and television presenter Ben Fogle also gave the Wales on Sunday campaign his backing, calling Parks an “inspiration” said: “To have climbed all seven peaks and been to both poles, he has achieved something I’d dream to achieve”.  “He has proved that you really can do anything if you really put your mind and body into it. Richard Parks has achieved an extraordinary thing. He really is an inspiration and I hope he gets the recognition he deserves.”

Meanwhile British mountaineer Alan Hinkes, who has summited all 14 of the world’s 8,000m peaks told the Wales on Sunday: “I think he deserves recognition for a fantastic achievement.  He does deserve recognition for doing it in that time.  He’s obviously got a lot of stamina, determination and resilience but to be able to do it you’ve got to enjoy it, in a kind of masochistic way. He certainly deserves to be recognised – it’s a good achievement, to say the least, and I’m sure he’ll go on and do more.”