Three members of our Ophthalmology team have taken on an Ironman Triathlon in aid of Tetbury Hospital! Our incredible Ironman Team are Mr John Ferris, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Mr Nitin Anand, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Jadie Cotterell, Healthcare Assistant and Ophthalmic Technician. Susan Probert, Day Surgery Manager, will run alongside Jadie. Nitin will kick off with the swim (2.4 miles) handing over the baton to John for cycling (112 miles) and finishing with Jadie running the marathon (26.2 miles). Their training is pushing them to the limits as they continue in their day jobs, caring for patients.

The ophthalmology department is proud of its fantastic teamwork and it is fitting that throughout the day Jadie, Nitin and John will be joined by other members of the Ophthalmology team, who will be swimming, cycling or running part of the Ironman course alongside them.

John Ferris says "One of the few positives that has come from the Covid pandemic is that many people, of all ages, have realised the positive impact exercise can have on our physical and mental well being.

After the lifting of the first lockdown I started to commute from my home in Birdlip to Tetbury Hospital on my bike. Cycling along the same roads, four times a month, taking in the subtle changes in the Cotswold countryside with the passing seasons and embracing whatever the weather had in store, has been a revelatory experience.

The idea behind this Ironman challenge was not only to set a testing target for Nitin, Jadie and myself, but also to inspire members of our great Ophthalmology team to challenge themselves by swimming, cycling or running further than they have ever done before and in the process raise some funds for our fantastic hospital."

Please support our fantastic Ironman team to help them raise vital funds to purchase a new operating microscope.