Oliver Dudley - Runner
Oliver Dudley, 32 from London, has always prided himself in believing that the ‘impossible is possible’. Having started playing rugby union at a late age, he reached England Student trials before being forced to retire after breaking his neck in 2000. For many years following this, Oliver’s energies were instead channelled into becoming a business entrepreneur. In 2007, having never been in a rowing boat prior to training, he became a crew member aboard La Mondiale, rowing 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean with 13 other adventurers. Such was the success that Oliver and the crew broke by 2 days the long standing Guinness World Record for the fastest crossing, setting a new time of 33 days, 7 ½ hours, along with two other world records.
When asked by fellow rower and runner Stu Kershaw to join the 777 team, the answer was a simple case of “say yes today, worry tomorrow”. Oliver’s principle concern what that the was a complete novice runner with zero marathons under his belt and only 3 months to get into shape! Oliver draws inspiration from Kids Company, a charity close to his heart, who share his life philosophy and he will be running each mile in a bid to raise support for their determined work to support some of the most vulnerable young people in London
Stuart Kershaw - Runner
Stuart is a Guinness book of records triple world record holder after he rowed across the Atlantic with the 14-man crew of La Mondiale in 2008. His experience in running stretches to a single completion of the London Marathon in 2001 but his sporting background included Boxing and Athletics, where he classed light heavyweight and ran the 800m and 1500m races.
Stuart has a passion for adventure, which has shaped both his personal ambitions and his career. He prides himself on a willingness to take a film camera where others dare not and in his six years as a documentary filmmaker he has regularly tackled situations at the forefront of the global media in a direct and refreshing manner. Stuart wholeheartedly embraces his mission as an independent filmmaker to share stories from across the earth that best illuminate the delicate nature of our world and the people sharing it.
Stuart is the director & CEO of In the Dark Productions, a UK based production company specializing in adventure documentaries and hostile location work for the broadcast industries. He has worked extensively as a journalist, camera operator and editor worldwide, covering events in Burma, Palestine, Kashmir and Uganda. Prior to setting up his company in 2003, Stuart worked as a script reader for Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox in Los Angeles.
Jack Jones - Runner
At 25, Jack is the youngest member of the 777 team and is also a rookie in the world of extreme endurance. However, what he lacks in experience he makes up for in determination. He is a keen sportsman having represented his county at golf and hockey. He also plays squash and football and is a regular climber.
Jack started running seriously 18 months ago, and in that time has run numerous half marathons and 3 full marathons. He is running for Hoylake Cottage. www.hoylakecottage.co.uk
Chris Cuddihy - Runner
At the age of 54 Chris is the oldest member of the team; a father of four with seven Grand children. Chris raced against Stuart and the 14 man crew of the La Mondiale in a 2008 world record Transatlantic rowing race Chris was part of a four man team on the rowboat ORCA. They completed the crossing from the coast of Africa to Barbados in 36 days. Chris's team lost the race by three days to the Le Mondiale but managing to get the Guinness book of records for the first Multi Hulled boat to row across the Atlantic.
Chris is a systems analyst for the county of Suffolk he lives in Riverhead New York with his wife and youngest son Ryan who is part of the 7 in 7 on 7 team.
Gary Ward - Movement coach / Masseur (Traveling with team)
I run an anatomical educational company called ‘Anatomy in Motion’ and specialise in anatomical biomechanics with a focus on full body movement manipulation to free up the joints and give the muscles a chance to relax. This enables the clients to have more freedom of movement and keeps them away from injury and discomfort. When we teach the body to rediscover it’s own ideal posture instead of informing it of a pre-conceived ideal posture seems to have dramatic impact on the results we can get with physical bodywork.
For the 777 expedition, I’ve been working closely with Oli Dudley in preparation for the event and will be unleashed on the rest of the team upon arrival in Chile.
I have a passion for skiing and mountain sports and have always wanted to travel the world… I just figured I’d have more time in each place than 24hours!
I’m really excited to be a part of the 777 crew. To be on location and working on the body where it really matters instead of in a clinical environment gives me a fantastic buzz. I’m looking forward to having a hand in a world’s first event too. My own personal blog to follow the event can be found at www.garyward.typepad.com/finding_centre
Euros Jones-Evans - Logistics & Support (Traveling with team)
Much of the logistics and fundraising for the UK Marathon and charity related events will be arranged by Euros Jones-Evans based in Swansea, Wales. Euros is a Welsh film producer born in St. Asap and a commercial producer at the production company Telesgop. Prior to this, Euros honed his skills as a line producer working alongside Stuart Kershaw and In the Dark Productions for three years. Euros said, “I am thrilled to be involved in such a dynamic project for such a worthy cause and I look forward to guiding the boys through to their final leg back on home soil – Hopefully with a world record in tow!”
Kim Vande Velde - Logistics and Support (UK)
A newly qualified lawyer with a single previous expedition under her belt (the Skycar Expedition 2009, the world's first road-legal, bio-fuelled, flying car which completed a mission from London to Timbuktu on 26 February 2009), Kim was invited to join the 7in7on7 team to provide logistics and operational support to the team during their mission. Her experience as a key member of the Skycar Expedition in communications, PR support, logistics, translation, team management and co-ordination will now be put to the test in her first global scale expedition.
As a French-speaking Belgian, Kim grew up in Brussels and moved to the UK when she was 15, where she took on an English Law and French law degree and completed her legal qualification in February 2009 at PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP, in London. A keen linguist and fluent in French, English, Spanish and Dutch, her challenge is to communicate effectively with team members, PR agencies, the media, expedition supporters and sponsors, and to co-ordinate the final leg of the journey, in London, as well as providing the essential ingredient to a successful mission - a bottle of champagne to crack open at the finishing line!
Ryan Cuddihy - Logistics & Support (USA)
Ryan is a 27 year old IT worker from the east end of New York's Long Island. He is a self confessed "Geek". Ryan owns and operates a small computer business as well as working full time as a systems analyst for the Suffolk County Police Department. When not fixing a computer, Ryan can either be found playing and coaching an adult co-ed softball team, playing "ultimate Frisbee" or watching a movie. For a time Ryan had aspirations of becoming a stuntman, but after falling head first into the family computer business he found his true calling.
Ryan was always a “reluctant” runner but felt that Isaac’s House was a cause worth running for. A few weeks ago Ryan sustained an injury and underwent knee surgery. This was performed by the renowned Dr. James Andrews of Birmingham AL. Ryan was told he could not attempt the 7 in 7 on 7 and be able to expect to complete his other task of hiking the breadth of the Appalachian Trail, a distance in excess of 2,100 hundred miles. So Ryan will now be acting as logistics and support. During his “Epic” walk Ryan will be raising money and awareness for the Wounded Warrior program.
