****Read below to know how to enter the competition and get a chance to Win a case of Wine and a Running T-shirt****

****If you decide to enter the competition please leave your name when you donate****

Dear friends, family, and incredible supporters,

I am thrilled to share a heartfelt journey with you, one that aims to make a meaningful impact on a cause close to my heart— to raise funds for the Sussex Heart Charity (sussexheartcharity.org). This local charity tirelessly works to **IMPROVE** the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of individuals suffering from cardiac conditions. They also **SUPPORT** research, new services, staff development, and training at Sussex hospitals. Additionally, they **FUND** community projects, awareness initiatives, and the provision of lifesaving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

Another reason for choosing this cause is twofold and deeply personal. At the age of 23, I was diagnosed with a prolapse of the mitral valve—a condition that, while currently not debilitating, needs constant scrutiny. Another profound motivation is to honor the memory of Francesco, a dear friend who tragically passed away two years ago while swimming, succumbing to a heart attack at the age of 50.

The Journey:

In September, I'll be participating in the Ironman 70.3 Emilia Romagna in Italy, marking the culmination of my fundraising journey. The Ironman 70.3 consists of a 1.2-mile (1.93 km) swim, a 56-mile (90.12 km) bike ride, and a 13.1-mile (21.1 km) run.

But that's not all! Prior to this, I've set two more ambitious goals for this journey: running my first-ever half marathon in Lisbon this March and tackling the Ironman 5150 Westfriesland Olympic triathlon in the Netherlands in June. The Ironman 5150 Westfriesland involves a 0.93-mile (1.5 km) swim, a 24.85-mile (40 km) bike ride, and a 6.21-mile (10 km) run.

Throughout this journey, I'll be sharing all my training stats and race results with you. Your involvement in this fundraiser gives you a chance to win! For every donation, leave a comment with your guess on how long it will take me to complete the Ironman 70.3. The person with the closest guess will win a fantastic prize: a case of wine (6x75cl) and a running t-shirt sponsored by Beeagle Wine (beeaglewine.com).

You can also predict that I won't finish the race, and those with this foresight will be randomly drawn for the prize.

**Important Note:** Only individuals based in the UK can participate in the draw and be eligible for the prize.

Your support means the world to me and, more importantly, to those benefiting from the incredible work of The Sussex Heart Charity. Let's make a difference together!

Thank you for being part of this Journey!!

With gratitude,

Damiano

**Please Note:** For any £ donated to this fundraising, L&G, the company I work for, will match the donation with an equal amount!!!!!