Help the cause

This is the simplest and most important way to support the charitable side of Tough Smudge.

My father died from metastatic prostate cancer in 2024. Raising money and awareness for Prostate Cancer UK is therefore not something bolted onto the endurance journey afterwards. It is one of the reasons Tough Smudge exists.

Direct donations are made through GiveStar and go to Prostate Cancer UK.

They are not used to pay for my event entries, travel, accommodation, equipment or other Tough Smudge costs.

Every donation, however large or small, moves the fundraising total in the right direction.

Help the journey

I genuinely enjoy the training and events. I would be doing some of this even without Tough Smudge.

But there is a difference between entering the occasional event and building a sustained programme of endurance challenges, videos, articles, equipment testing and charity fundraising.

Entry fees, travel, accommodation, equipment, nutrition and content production all cost money.

That is where Patreon comes in.

Joining the Tough Smudge Pit Crew through Patreon helps support the costs of developing the project and allows me to take on more events, document them properly and hopefully use the growing platform to raise even more money and awareness for Prostate Cancer UK.

Patreon support is not a charitable donation and does not go directly to Prostate Cancer UK.

It supports Tough Smudge.

In return, I intend Patreon to become the place for more of the behind-the-scenes journey: event preparation, plans, lessons, early content, longer updates and the bits that do not necessarily belong on the public website.

If you fancy being part of the pit crew without having to stand in a muddy field at three in the morning, this is probably the option for you.

Help us do more together

I am interested in working with businesses, organisations, charities and individuals that see value in the Tough Smudge journey.

That support does not have to mean writing a large sponsorship cheque.

Potential partnerships could include:

• event sponsorship;
• equipment or clothing;
• nutrition and hydration products;
• travel or accommodation;
• recovery services;
• filming, photography or editing;
• professional services;
• local business support;
• charity partnerships;
• introductions to people or organisations that might be able to help.

I am particularly interested in relationships where the product, service or organisation genuinely fits the endurance journey.

If something is supplied free of charge, gifted or sponsored, I will say so.

If I review or talk about a product, the opinion will remain mine.

A free pair of trainers will not magically make them the best trainers I have ever worn.

The aim is to build genuine partnerships rather than simply collect logos.

If you think there might be a fit, I would be very happy to have a conversation.

As Tough Smudge develops, there will be two ways shopping can help support the project.

Buy something you were going to buy anyway

Tough Smudge merchandise

The first Tough Smudge clothing and supporter items are being developed for training, events and people who want to be part of the journey.

Income from merchandise helps support Tough Smudge and the costs of undertaking and documenting future challenges.

Kit I use

Some equipment and products featured on the site may include affiliate links.

If you follow one of those links and make a purchase, Tough Smudge may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Affiliate relationships will always be clearly identified.

I will only feature equipment that is relevant to the journey, and an affiliate relationship will never guarantee a positive review.

If something is rubbish, I would rather tell you it is rubbish than persuade somebody else to buy it.

Costs nothing. Helps enormously.

Financial support is useful.

It is not the only thing that matters.

You can help Tough Smudge without spending a penny.

You could:

• follow Tough Smudge on social media;
• subscribe to the YouTube channel when it launches;
• share an event or fundraising post;
• tell somebody about the Prostate Cancer UK fundraiser;
• send a Tough Smudge article to somebody who might enjoy it;
• introduce me to a business or organisation that might want to get involved;
• come and say hello at an event;
• suggest an endurance challenge;
• follow the journey and keep coming back.

Attention matters.

• A share can reach somebody who donates.
• A conversation can lead to a sponsor.
• An introduction can create a partnership.
• And occasionally somebody may suggest a properly daft challenge that I somehow end up entering.

Follow Tough Smudge