Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disease that causes muscle weakness and wasting. Children born with DMD have a fault, known as a mutation, on their dystrophin gene, this means that they cannot produce dystrophin and without this muscles get damaged more easily and so muscle strength and function is weakened. There is currently no effective treatment or cure.

Will Taylor was diagnosed with DMD in June 2014 at the age of 4, he is now 15 years old.

In August 2025 Sam Weale, with the help of his crew, will attempt to complete the Enduroman Arch to Arc triathlon, and in doing so will hope to raise £10,000 for the Iron Will fund.

The Arch to Arc consists of a run from London to Dover of 87 miles, a channel swim(22miles minimum ,weather and tides depending)and a bike from Calais to Paris of 181miles.

WHY? Is the question I get asked the most , and for people that know me well understand that it is a natural progression in this long, sacrificial journey . From fell running to competing in multiple triathlons, Ironmans, double extreme triathlons, to winning a 50 mile mountain Ultra race to swimming the longest lake in England. For someone who is not a natural swimmer , this will undoubtedly be the toughest physical and mental challenge i have taken on to date. But I am not short of inspiration…..

I met Will and his family back in 2022 when his Dad Sam was good enough to support me on my lake Windermere swim( in want of nothing in return) . I knew then I wanted to do all I could to help . The whole family inspired me with there tireless efforts to raise funds for the charity by inventing many of there own events , such as there next one,

And so also,

In August 2025, Will’s Mum and Dad - Sue and Sam, and a group of friends, will attempt to complete a long distance Ironman triathlon called the IRON WILL, to raise awareness of the disease and most importantly, to fund the ground-breaking work that scientists in the UK are undertaking to find a treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The IRON WILL 2025 consists of a 12km/7.5 mile kayak or paddleboard; 80km/50mile mountain bike ride; and a 42.2km/26.2mile marathon run, all in the mountainous terrain of the Lake District.