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On July 7th I'll be doing an Ironman, in other words swimming 3.8km, cycling 180km and hopefully running a marathon (42km). I've decided to dedicate my first (and possibly only) Ironman to my dad who I know would have been bursting with pride at the finish line if he was around.

My dad passed away almost ten years ago, four months after the birth of Daniel, his first grandchild. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma (a type of cancer caused by asbestos) when he was 53  and despite undergoing chemo, radiotherapy and a massive operation to remove a lung, he only survived 15 months.

He suffered immense pain towards the end and during his stints in hospital the doctors and nurses didn't seem to be able to find a panacea  to relieve him. Fortunately my dad was transferred to St. Michael's Hospice for the last two and a half weeks of his life. Within two hours of him being admitted there the pained expression left his face and he was able to relax. The doctors and nurses there were like angels. They are highly skilled at palliative care and relieving terminally ill patients so they can bear and, dare I say enjoy the company of their loved ones during their final days.

St Michael's Hospice is operated entirely through donations and I would like to raise as much as possible for this amazing institution. I hope other terminally ill patients can find peace and comfort in this haven and their family members can find solace knowing their loved ones are free from pain.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving. They’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity so it’s the most efficient way to donate, saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Please dig deep for this worthy cause.