I have committed to complete this Ironman in memory of my little boy Alex who was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. I have only recently heard of the charity Smile train and was immediately struck by the wonderful work they do, helping children all around the world by carrying out repair surgery of cleft lips and palates. Unfortunately my little boy was never well enough to have any repair surgery, so I was never able to see his transformed smile.

The first Ironman Staffordshire will take place in my fiftieth year (2015) and my aim is to celebrate my half century by raising as much money as possible for Smile Train.