On 5th of May 2019 I'll be taking part in my very first IronMan. The road to the start line has been a tough one - with mental health struggles and broken collarbones to name a few, not to mention the long hours of training that are being put in. However all this effort pales in to insignificance when I look at the effort my sister (Nell) and nephew (Magnus) put in to dealing with the genetic disorder (Prader-Willi Syndrome) that Magnus has had since birth. My training has an end point, I choose to do it and it isn't 24/7. Nell and Magnus inspire me every day and I want to show them how much they both mean to me by raising money for this cause close to my heart. 

Prader-Willi Syndrome is caused by an abnormality on chromosome 15 and affects sufferers in a number of ways including:

• Hypotonia: weak muscle tone, and floppiness at birth.
• Hypogonadism: immature development of sexual organs and other sexual characteristics.
• Obesity: caused by excessive appetite and overeating (hyperphagia), and a decreased calorific requirement owing to low energy expenditure levels. (Obesity is not normally a feature of those whose food intake is strictly controlled.)
• Central nervous system and endocrine gland dysfunction: causing varying degrees of learning disability, short stature, hyperphagia, somnolence (excessive sleepiness), and poor emotional and social development. 

In spite of all these struggles Magnus is the most smiley/joyful little boy you could meet and a lot of this comes down to the amazing life Nell provides him. Which I know doesn't come easy.

Please help support this cause and donate whatever you can. It will help me over that line on the 5th of May.

Thank you,

Ollie