Merry Hill security guards taking on SAS challenge

Matt Barker and Chad Baxter are doing the final bits of training before they take on the Fan Dance, a 24km SAS Selection test staged over Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in the Brecon Beacons.

The infamous march is the world’s oldest Special Forces test and is used as the first major indicator of whether a candidate has the physical and mental aptitude to complete the legendary Selection course.

The 41-year-old Matt and 29-year-old Chad, who both work as security guards at the Merry Hill Centre, will be doing the challenge in aid of Midlands Air Ambulance on Tuesday, April 20.

Mr Barker said he had wanted to do something for charity after recovering from Covid-19.

He said: "It was a work conversation between myself and Chad after my dad Glenn and I had recovered from Covid and I was saying that I wanted to give something back for charity.

"Originally, it was going to be for the NHS, but with Captain Sir Tom and others doing their bit for it, we decided to do it for another charity.

"Chad suggested the air ambulance as they're not government funded and rely entirely on donations, so we chose them over a cup of tea in the control room."

Mr Barker said he was a keen hill walker and wanted to do the challenge in the Brecon Beacons because of his own love for the area.

He also said that while he and Chad would not be attempting to do the challenge in the four hours and 10 minutes the special forces do it in, they would be pushing themselves for the air ambulance.

He said: "It's good to be able to do this to help any charity that needs help and I'd love to try and help as many as we can.

"I'm really excited about the challenge ahead and we are going to give it everything to complete the challenge and raise as much as we can.

"We set a target of £500, but we're keen to raise as much as we can, so everything is a bonus from now and I can't wait to get going."

To find out more and to make a donation, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/barker-baxter1