Hes wrestled, abseiled, climbed...but he still has to face the tarantula
He’s cuddled a piglet and a giant albino python, joined a big band and learned to play the ukelele.
And before the year is out, arachnophobic Richard Roberts will confront his greatest fear - by letting a tarantula crawl across his face.
As previously reported in the Newbury Weekly News, the 31-year-old engineer at National Instruments Corporation in Newbury Business Park vowed last New Year’s Eve to undertake a bizarre challenge each day in 2012 to raise money for the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust.
As the year draws to a close, we caught up with Mr Roberts to discover how he’s got on.
He said: “It’s been a thrilling and enlightening year. Instead of settling down in front of the telly each evening, I’ve forced myself to do things most people never dream of doing.
“I’ve got so many great memories, all packed into one year. Me and my work buddies hosted a 60 second ‘flash party’ at 12.12pm on December 12 with drinks, bubbles, streamers and cakes... all within a whirlwind 60 seconds. Then it was back to work, as if it had never happened. I also made a ‘world sandwich’ - I synchronised watches with a friend in Sydney, Australia, and we both placed a piece of bread on the floor, on either end of the world, at the same time to create a temporary world sandwich.
“Then, in front of a packed crowd, I was invited to join Newbury's own Apollo Big Band on stage at the Corn Exchange. “My membership of this effortlessly cool, 16-piece band was short-lived....”
Mr Roberts, who has so far raised £1,582, undertook the challenge after his wife Sian suffered a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy.
Friends and colleagues helped dream up tasks, including climbing Glamorgan’s highest peak, which are listed on his blog at www.tinylittlefella.tumblr
One of the highlights was conducting Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra - a challenge set by a former flatmate after Mr Roberts rashly opined that there was nothing to it.
The hilarious results can be seen online at www.youtube/IEnx7docPNQ
As the year ends, Mr Roberts is looking forward to taking it easy.
But not before he undertakes the tarantula challenge.
He admitted: “I’ve been putting it off but there’s not much time left now so I’ve got to bite the bullet.”
Meanwhile if you would like to top up Mr Robert’s total, log on to www.justgiving.com/tinylittlefella
