Dean Jackson, a Trading Director with UM Group, will take on a gruelling endurance challenge in Japan next month.

Dean is part of a three-man team that also includes Singapore-based Chin Wen Liew, from shipping services provider Clarksons, and Japan-based Takefumi Yano, from shipping specialist Dorval. Both companies are long-time partners of UM.

The race on May 16 and 17 takes competitors along the Izu Peninsula, through the UNESCO Geopark area close to Tokyo.

The terrain is gently undulating in areas with some short steep ascents and descents via mountain and forest trails. Spectacular views of one of the world’s most painted mountains can be seen from several points along the challenge.

While day 1 will see Dean and his colleagues complete a demanding trail run, on day 2 teams take part in Rogaining, an orienteering sport involving route planning and navigation between checkpoints. In a rogaine, teams choose which checkpoints to visit with the idea of gaining the greatest number of points within the quickest time.

The teams’ performance during both days, together with their fundraising efforts, will be factored in to determine an overall event winner.

Two years ago, almost 200 people from 19 countries took part in The Mission to Seafarers (MtS) Adventure Race Japan, raising over US $1.3million towards the work of the international maritime charity.

The money raised enables MtS to maintain, develop and expand their services globally to ensure that seafarers and their families have the best assistance wherever they are and whenever they are most in need.

This time, around 300 participants are expected to take part with the potential to generate even more vital funds for this much-loved charity.

Dean, whose team name is ‘Hot, Sweet and Sticky’, a nod to the molasses that UM trades and ships, said: “I decided to get involved in January this year and I’ve been building up my training since then, starting with shorter runs and progressing to 15-20km.

“I’m fortunate that where I live in the Lee Valley there are lots of different routes I can get out on with various types of terrain from grassy areas to gravel trails. This is ideal as it will be similar to the terrain where the challenge takes place in Japan.

“We’re expecting the weather to be humid with a high chance of some rain.

“It will be fun to work as a team with Chin Wen and Takefumi, representing Clarksons and Dorval respectively, two companies we partner closely with in the Asia Pacific region.

“Japan is also an area I have spent a lot of time over the years through my work with UM, visiting at least once or twice a year.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge, something that’s a little bit different to the norm, and hopefully raising as much money as we can for a charity that does inspirational work across the globe and one which is so relevant to UM Group and our global trading business.”

You can donate to Dean’s ‘Hot, Sweet and Sticky’ team by visiting https://app.adventureracejapan.org/make-a-donation