Thank you for taking the time to visit our just giving page.

We have decided to do a full distance triathlon also known as an Ironman, this consists of a 2.4 mile open water swim, a 112 mile bike ride and then finished off with a marathon all within 17 hours.

We will be doing this to raise money for the Emily Ash Trust. The Emily Ash Trust is a small charity with a really big heart, who are 100% volunteer run. The charity’s primary aim is to help and support families who have a child, teenager or young adult living with cancer, with the aim to provide families quality time together, where they aim to build lasting happy memories.

A little bit about each of us.

Alex

Hi I’m Alex, I am one of the EAT’s Trustee’s. I have been with the Emily ash trust since 2008 and have seen the amazing things that the charity do first hand; pamper days for the parents, sibling days, family days, winter wonderland, build a bear events, and everything in-between!

I have decided to take on this challenge after finding out that one of my young family members has been diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). After finding this out I wanted to do everything I could to help and this news made me more determined to push harder than ever to raise money and awareness to help support children and the families we do though this amazing charity.

I realised in order to raise the maximum amount of money I need the challenge to be a tough one and thought this will tick all the boxes especially as I haven’t done any real cardio since 2009, we are all in a very similar position when it comes to fitness however, being joined by two friends I fully believe that we can push through the pain and training to get this challenge completed.

Neil

I’m Neil and in 2026, I’ll be taking on the ultimate challenge, an Ironman, to raise money for the Emily Ash Trust, a small but incredible charity that supports children and families affected by cancer, helping them create lasting memories during unimaginably difficult times. Over the years, I’ve attended their annual charity balls and seen first-hand what amazing work they do. When Alex shared the heart-breaking news that a young family member of his had been diagnosed with leukemia, I knew it was time to do more. Together with Alex and Rob, I’ve committed to this challenge in the hope of raising as much as possible for this vital cause.

Cancer has touched so many of us in some way. Having lost my mum to cancer at the age of 11 and seen close family members endure gruelling treatment, I know how hard it can be and I can’t begin to imagine the courage it takes for children and their families to face it head-on.

Right now, my fitness isn’t exactly Ironman-ready. I’ve done a couple of cycles to France in the past, but I was much younger and fitter then! Swimming the 2.4 miles is definitely my biggest fear, as my experience is limited to the occasional holiday paddle. But with Alex, Rob, a solid training plan, and your encouragement, I’m determined to push through the pain and cross that finish line.

Your support means the world to me, and every donation will make a real difference to families facing cancer. Thank you for being part of this journey.

Rob

Hi I’m Rob, I work with Alex and this will be my first time getting involved with the Emily Ash trust but what better a mission can there be then to help make children happy in the most difficult of times. As a father of 3 I know it would mean the world to us to have the kind of support offered by the trust if my family were in need and if I can help others in that way it’s worth every second.

Cancer is something that touches us all in one way or another and having had family go through the challenges of dealing with this terrible condition the challenge of taking on an Ironman doesn’t remotely compare, so when Alex asked me to take part I couldn’t refuse to do it.

In terms of fitness I train in powerlifting and weight lifting this involves very little cardiovascular work and undertaking this challenge especially as I have little to no experience swimming will be no small task for me, this is way out of my comfort zone and I’ve never done anything remotely like it before. I hope by taking on a challenge like this and with your support we can in turn provide some comfort to those who are facing challenges far beyond this.

Thank you for taking the time to read our stories, any donation no matter how big or small will be greatly appreciated.

You can follow our training journey on the Emily Ash Trust website and social media where we will post regular updates.