Police officer takes on Ironman challenge for children’s charity

A POLICE officer from Llanelli is taking on the ultimate endurance challenge whilst raising money to help kids with cancer.

DC Gareth Phillips will be taking part in the Ironman Wales in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, on September 16.

It includes a 2.4-mile open water swim followed by 112 miles on the bike and a 26.2-mile marathon run.

Gareth, who is part of the South Wales Police Triathlon team, has been training for the extreme fitness challenge since January.

He said: “I started taking part in triathlons last year and went down to watch the Ironman Wales event in Tenby last September. I wanted to take part but thought it would take me two or three years before I would be fit enough. But two of the coaches in the police triathlon team Kevin Pullin and Justin Lott gave me the coaching and confidence to prepare for the event.

“I have been training intensively, sometimes for up to eight hours a day, but it has been worth it.”

The 35-year-old is raising money for The Joshua Foundation, a Cardiff-based charity, which provides holidays and experiences for children with terminal cancer and their families.

The charity was set up in 1998 by Sarah Cornelius-Price following her son Joshua’s death at the age of seven from cancer and since then the charity has raised more than £7 million to help provide experiences such as breakfast with the Easter bunny and family trips to Lapland.

Gareth said: “I became aware of The Joshua Foundation through their website and was moved by what the children and their families go through.

“I think that the work of the Foundation is really positive and I hope that if I can raise some money on their behalf I may be able to help them make a difference to some of the families they are involved with.”

If you would like to sponsor Gareth and help raise money for terminally ill children please visit www.justgiving.com/Gareth-Phillips0