Bolton mum and grandad take part in Born Survivor for Derian House

Kaytlon Mann, 28, and her grandfather Robert Mann did not prepare at all for Born Survivor, where they joined 34 other daredevils in the Ribble Valley on September 14.

Mudslides, a fire pit jump and a barbed wire army crawl – 30 obstacles overall – awaited them at the UK’s most authentic military course.

And Robert was the oldest participant there.

They completed it in just under three hours.

Kaytlon Mann (second from left) and Robert Mann (left) with her team (Image: Born Survivor Events UK)

Kaytlon, of Bolton, said: “Born Survivor was more mentally challenging than physically.

“The obstacles were difficult but there wasn’t one we didn’t like - we all had a great time. My favourite was the torpedo, a huge slide into water, I’d do that again!

“We didn’t do any training, not one single bit.

“Grandad was the ringleader of us all. He had us running most of the time despite telling us he was only going to walk it.

“There were a few obstacles we looked at and thought, we can’t do that. And then grandad would say I’m doing it! We had to do it, otherwise grandad would have put us to shame.

“He was very satisfied with himself. I rang him the day after to see how he felt. I was aching all over. When I asked him how he was feeling, he said, ‘Great, nothing more than usual.’”

But they ran the course for a tragic reason.

(Image: Born Survivor Events UK)

In November 2022, Kaytlon lost her baby son, James, aged just 20 days old.

He had been born with a life-limiting condition, Trisomy 13.

Derian House Children’s Hospice, a Chorley charity that cares for 400 babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions from across the North West, helped the family grieve James in his last days.

With the charity’s assistance, they created hand and footprints to make memories of baby James.

And Kaytlon and her partner Jamie wanted to find a way to thank them.  

But tragedy continued – as Jamie died just seven months later in May 2023.

Kaytlon, who is also mum to Lilly, aged one, said: “My partner and I had spoken about doing Born Survivor for Derian, but he never made it.

“I decided to do it this year and asked my family to do it with me in memory of my son and for Jamie too.”

Kaytlon’s grandad, sisters, best friend and cousin were at her side taking part in Born Survivor.

Kaytlon said: “We thought, if we can go and do that with no training and spend a couple of days in pain, then it’s nothing compared to what some families go through.

“And we’d have raised money for Derian House to help support Derian’s children and the families.”

Kaytlon Mann (front) (Image: Born Survivor Events UK)

In those three hours, Kaytlon’s team raised £1,375 for Derian House.

Kaytlon said: “Derian was there when we needed it, and they still support us now.”

Robert, a retired carpet manufacturer, said: “When I told Kaytlon I wanted to do Born Survivor with them, they all said I couldn’t do it.

“But the chance came up and I went for it.

“At the start, I saw all these young people and gym goers and I thought I’ve got no chance with this lot.

“I’ve never been in a gym. I used to walk and cycle, but because I enjoyed it – not for fitness. Some of the obstacles I came to and thought no, I can’t do that.

“But then I ended up doing them anyway.”

Robert Mann (front) (Image: Born Survivor Events UK)

Kerry Salmon, Community Fundraiser at Derian House, said: “Kaytlon and her team were so determined to finish the obstacle course – they have definitely proven they have what it takes to be a Born Survivor! Robert became grandad to so many people that day, everybody was cheering him on. He was amazing.

“Thank you to every single person who took part in this year’s event. Every penny raised will mean the world to our families – well done everyone.

“It will cost £6million to run services at Derian House in 2024, and so we rely heavily on all of our kind-hearted supporters who help us to continue to do what we do.”

Donate to Kaytlon and Robert’s Born Survivor efforts on JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/page/kaytlon-mann-1716203389799