A REAL-life James Bond has taken on his hardest problem to lift tons of of 1000's for charity.
Mike Bates, 43, is a former marine and intelligence officer, however has now turned his hand to one thing fairly completely different to thank the hospital that saved his son's life when he was born.
Mike, from Leeds, Yorkshire, spent 46 days in a solo boat, rowing solo throughout the Atlantic from the Canary Islands to Antigua, ending first in his class and elevating £170,000 within the course of.
He has already donated £65,000 to charity and intends to make use of the cash to purchase six neo-natal monitoring units for Leeds Kids's hospital after the crew there saved his son Gabe from post-natal meningitis in 2011.
The previous soldier instructed The Solar On-line: "It was brutal... it was worse than the commando course.
"There was large climate round Christmas and New Yr... within the last 48 hours I spent 22 hours rowing continuous right into a 20-knot headwind.
"I've at all times wished to repay that debt [to the hospital]. I am extraordinarily happy with what I've achieved."
He added: "I wished to serve my group.
"The NHS do not buy their gear - charities purchase it."
Mike joined the Royal Marines in 2000 and was in coaching when 9/11 occurred.
He was among the many first British troops in Afghanistan in 2002, the place his unit was concerned within the seek for infamous Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden.
He went on to serve in Iraq in 2003 and Northern Eire in 2004 earlier than leaving the Military after an sickness.
Nonetheless, Mike discovered that his love for "serving my nation" remained and joined the Ministry of Defence, working as an intelligence specialist and in covert ops.
He added that his position concerned "immediately gathering proof in opposition to the best profile targets" and dealing with brokers on the high stage of the intelligence discipline.
Mike left the intelligence service in 2020 to start his charity work.
He mentioned: "I stay a patriot and happy with my profession.
"We saved numerous lives, little question about it."
As for the longer term, Mike is within the early levels of planning extra charity occasions, in addition to writing an autobiography.
He additionally holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which he took up whereas within the Military, and runs his personal jiu jitsu health club in Leeds.
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