Jaws Fan Plans To Dive With 50 Sharks... For Charity!
Meet Stuart Leach, shark lover, Jaws finatic and creator of EXPED 5050, a global charity challenge where he completes 50 unique ‘missions’ before he turn 50 (in 2024), including a mission involving 50 different types of shark!
The Daily Jaws caught up with Stuart to learn more.
Tell us about your love for Jaws.
I think I was about 6 at the time, and most of the family jumped at the underwater Ben Gardner boat scene! Such a great movie and film score. So many memorable scenes make it an all time classic. My favourite character probably has to be Quint, although I wanted to be a marine biologist growing up!
How did jaws turn you into a shark lover?
I’ve always had a love and interest of the ocean. Having watched Jaws, there was an immediate fascination/trepidation about sharks and this led me to diving with them when I was about 20 and it’s just grown from there to diving all over the world with them.
How has jaws inspired EXPED 5050?
During the 4040 Challenge, one of the missions was to read a 40 year old novel and that had to be Jaws! I have a few challenge ideas inspired by the film, but they are yet to be revealed!
Tell us about the challenge?
EXPED 5050 is an 8 year global challenge that consists of me completing 50 unique ‘missions’ before I turn 50. Over 20 of the missions, breakdown into 50 subs tasks eg 50 swims, 50 marathons, etc... so there’s over 1000 challenges to complete! My main aim is to raise £50,000 for two military charities whilst supporting others as well.
How did EXPED 50/50 come about?
I did something similar in the lead up to my 40th birthday as I was just recovering from a severe knee injury. As time has gone on, I’ve realised that I need a challenge (or 50!) for my own health and well-being, as well raising funds for those who put themselves in harms way for us.
What do you hope to achieve?
Ultimately raise the fundraising target I’ve set myself, as well as inspiring others to get out there and do adventurous stuff including swimming with sharks! One of the missions is to dive with 50 different species of shark, as always, before I turn 50.
How can people help and support you?
Please follow my challenge on social media:
Facebook: @exped5050
Twitter: @exped5050
Instagram: @stealthyadventurer
Please also get involved with some Jaws specific raffles/auctions - I will be releasing some very limited and unique Jaws memorabilia, to help with my challenge fundraising and logistics.
Are a jaws finatic like Stuart? If so, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us at mail@thedailyjaws.com and put your name and jaws finatic in the subject and we’ll get back to you!