Why I’m Doing This: A 70.3 Ironman for an Even Greater Cause

When I first met my girlfriend a few years ago, I had no idea how much her family would come to mean to me or how profoundly her younger brother would open my eyes.

At first, like many people, I had a vague understanding of autism. I knew it was a spectrum, I knew it could affect communication and behaviour, but I didn’t truly get it. That changed over time, simply by being around him by watching how he moved through the world, how he saw things I missed, how he experienced life with intensity, joy, and sometimes overwhelming challenge.

I also saw what his family did behind the scenes the patience, the sleepless nights, the advocacy, the laughter in the hard moments, and the fierce love that holds it all together. It was both inspiring and humbling. Autism isn’t just a condition; it’s a world of its own. One filled with both brilliance and barriers and far too often, families are left to navigate it with little support.

That’s why I’ve decided to take on the challenge of a 70.3 Ironman: 1.2 miles of swimming, 56 miles of cycling, and 13.1 miles of running to raise money and awareness for the National Autistic Society.

This isn’t just about physical endurance. It’s about showing up for those who are constantly pushing through challenges most of us don’t see. It’s about honouring a boy who’s taught me more about resilience, curiosity, and heart than he’ll probably ever realise. And it’s about supporting the thousands of families who walk this path every day often in silence, often without enough help.

So as I train, sweat, and probably suffer through this race, I’ll be thinking of them and of the amazing young man who changed the way I see the world.

Thank you for any support you can give. Every donation helps the National Autistic Society provide crucial resources, campaign for rights, and make the world a more understanding place.